IBM's New Battery Design Taps Seawater as Alternative Mineral Source

IBM said its technology has proven to outperform lithium-ion batteries in cost, charging time and energy efficiency.

By Reuters | Updated: 19 December 2019 16:35 IST

IBM's New Battery Design Taps Seawater as Alternative Mineral Source

Photo Credit: IBM Research

A Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectroscopy (DEMS) System in the IBM Research Battery Lab

Highlights

IBM created battery design that uses materials extracted from seawater
The goal is to have the first working prototype: IBM Reserach
Battery makers are scrambling to reduce cobalt in Li-ion batteries

International Business Machines said on Wednesday it has created a battery design that uses materials extracted from seawater and requires no cobalt, as the race to find alternative sources to the expensive mineral intensifies.

IBM said it has partnered with the research wing of Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz, battery electrolyte supplier Central Glass and battery manufacturer Sidus for the commercial development of the new design.

"The goal would be, within a year or so, to have the first working prototype (of the battery)," said Jeff Welser, vice president at IBM Research.

IBM may not necessarily end up making a product using the design, Welser added.

The move comes as top battery makers scramble to reduce cobalt content in lithium-ion batteries, and as the expansion of the electric vehicle market is expected to result in shortages of the mineral mainly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

IBM said its technology has proven to outperform lithium-ion batteries in cost, charging time and energy efficiency.

The company also said it is partnering with the University of Tokyo on an initiative to advance quantum computing by developing the first practical application of the technology.

Under the agreement, an IBM Q System One, the company's quantum computing system designed for scientific use, will be installed in an IBM facility in Japan - the first such installation in the region. The company is competing with Alphabet's Google and Microsoft to be the first to commercialise quantum technology, which could fuel advancement in fields like artificial intelligence and chemistry within a few years.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.