January 30, 2023
Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
Keio University
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Nagoya Institute of Technology
Highlights of the Announcement
Developed an oxide positive electrode material for use in next-generation "magnesium rechargeable batteries."
Developed a new material by bringing together the technologies of an All-Japan research team.
Enabled high-energy operation of magnesium rechargeable batteries at room temperature.
Lithium-ion batteries are indispensable rechargeable batteries in our daily lives. However, due to increasing future demand and growing supply chain risks for resources, the development of next-generation rechargeable batteries is being advanced globally. "Magnesium rechargeable batteries," which use abundant magnesium instead of the rare metal lithium, are attracting attention as safe and inexpensive rechargeable batteries. Research is currently underway to increase the energy density of magnesium rechargeable batteries, but developing a positive electrode material that surpasses the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries remains a major challenge.
A research team led by Lecturer Hiroaki Kobayashi of the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials at Tohoku University and Professor Hiroaki Imai of Keio University has developed a spinel-type magnesium manganese oxide (MgMn 2 O 4 ), which is considered a promising positive electrode material for magnesium rechargeable batteries. As an All-Japan research team, they developed a new material synthesis technique by combining technologies in which individual research institutions excel, such as nanoparticle and porous material technologies, and succeeded in synthesizing an ultra-porous and extremely small nanoparticle spinel. By using the developed spinel material for the positive electrode, high-energy operation of magnesium rechargeable batteries at room temperature has become possible.
This research was published online in ACS Nano, a nanotechnology journal of the American Chemical Society, on January 20, 2023.
For the full press release, please see below.