Adelaide Scientists Develop Safer, High-Performance Zinc–Iodine Battery Using Dry Electrode Technology

A research team at the University of Adelaide has unveiled a breakthrough in energy storage: a dry-process zinc–iodine battery that offers enhanced safety, extended lifespan, and higher capacity—all while maintaining strong performance and stability.

By eliminating the need for traditional wet mixing methods, the researchers created a novel dry electrode for aqueous zinc–iodine batteries. The result? Cathodes with more than double the performance of conventional iodine and even lithium-ion batteries.

Figure 1. Zinc–Iodine Battery.

“We’ve developed a new electrode fabrication method for zinc–iodine batteries that skips the typical wet mixing process,” explained Professor Shizhang Qiao, Chair of Nanotechnology and Director of the Centre for Materials in Energy and Catalysis at the University of Adelaide. “Instead, we combined dry powders and rolled them into thick, self-supporting electrodes [1]. To further enhance the system, we introduced a small amount of 1,3,5-trioxane to the electrolyte, which forms a flexible protective film on the zinc surface during charging. This layer helps prevent the formation of dangerous dendrites—needle-like structures that can short-circuit batteries.”

A Safer, Sustainable Alternative to Lithium-Ion

Zinc–iodine aqueous batteries already offer key advantages in terms of safety, sustainability, and cost, especially for large-scale energy storage. However, their energy capacity has lagged behind that of lithium-ion counterparts—until now. The team’s findings, published in Joule, highlight a new benchmark for electrode performance. Figure 1 shows a zinc-iodine battery.

“The dry electrode technique enabled an industry-leading loading of 100 mg of active material per cm²,” said Han Wu, Research Associate at the School of Chemical Engineering. “In our tests, pouch cells retained 88.6% of their capacity after 750 cycles, while coin cells maintained nearly 99.8% after 500 cycles. Using synchrotron infrared analysis, we directly observed the formation of the protective zinc film during operation.”

Real-World Potential for Grid-Scale Energy Storage

The combination of high iodine loading and a stabilized zinc interface translates to batteries that store more energy at lower weight and cost—key factors for adoption in grid-scale systems. Compared to existing battery technologies, the team’s dry-process approach offers several clear advantages:

• Higher capacity: Dry electrodes hold more active material than those created through wet processes, which typically cap out below 2 mAh/cm².
• Reduced self-discharge and shuttle effect: The dense structure minimizes iodine leakage into the electrolyte, preserving performance.
• Improved zinc stability: The self-forming protective film effectively blocks dendrite growth, extending the battery’s operational life.

“This innovation will greatly benefit energy storage providers—especially those integrating renewable energy and managing grid fluctuations—with a safer, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective battery,” said Professor Qiao.

Next Steps: Toward Scalable Manufacturing and Broader Applications

The team is already looking ahead to commercial scalability. “We plan to scale up electrode production using reel-to-reel manufacturing techniques,” Professor Qiao noted. “By refining current collectors and optimizing electrolyte usage, we believe we can double the system’s energy density—from about 45 Wh/kg to nearly 90 Wh/kg.”

The researchers also plan to explore other halogen-based chemistries, such as bromine systems, using the same dry electrode approach.

References

1. https://scitechdaily.com/battery-breakthrough-scientists-double-performance-with-dry-electrodes/

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), Dry Electrode Innovation Doubles Battery Efficiency, AnaTechMaz, pp.218