The End of Battery Shortages: Potassium Takes on Lithium

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have developed a new type of cathode for potassium-ion batteries, potentially revolutionizing energy storage. This breakthrough paves the way for more affordable and eco-friendly power sources for electric vehicles and portable electronics.

With global demand for portable electronic devices and electric vehicles on the rise, scientists are searching for alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Potassium-ion batteries are attracting special attention due to potassium’s abundance in nature and its impressive electrochemical properties.

Alexey Ganin, head of the Glasgow ElectroChemistry on Solids (GECOS) research group, notes that while lithium-ion batteries offer excellent performance, lithium’s relative scarcity makes it a strategically important and limited resource. In contrast, potassium is much more widely available.

The research team created a chromium selenide-based cathode that delivers outstanding results with minimal carbon content—less than 10%. Previous potassium-ion battery designs relied on “Prussian blue” as the cathode material, but required large amounts of carbon to achieve optimal conductivity.

The prototype battery boasts a capacity of 125 mAh/g, nearly reaching the theoretical maximum of 127 mAh/g. Thanks to the material’s layered structure, potassium ions can move freely between layers during charging and discharging.

Lab tests confirmed that even at high charging speeds, the battery retains 85% of its capacity. These results make the technology promising for a wide range of applications, from mobile devices to renewable energy storage systems.

The next phase of research will focus on finding the optimal electrolyte to further improve battery efficiency. The team plans to collaborate with robotics specialists to automate the testing of thousands of potential chemical combinations in search of the ideal electrolyte.