SCPS, a privately-owned and independent French Research Center on primary and secondary batteries, brings an alternative solution for portable electronics with a new silver zinc battery.
The performances of this battery are closed to those of lithium-ion but with much less risks : no fire or explosion because of a water based electrolyte and lack of highly reactive materials.

The huge portable electronics markets (5 billions euros/year with 20% growth for telephones, computers, organizers, cameras,…) have required major innovations in the field of batteries.

After NiCd and NiMH batteries, Li-ion batteries dominate the market. Thanks to a high voltage, specific energies (gravimetric and volumetric) have been increased and consequently the autonomy of the electronic equipment.

The counter part of these high energy densities is the safety risk has it been shown during these last years with overheating of batteries, computers taking fire,…and numerous recalls of batteries.

The use of more stable anodic materials than lithium cobalt oxide makes lithium-ion batteries safer (without totally solving the safety problem) but reduce their specific energies.

A true alternative

The silver zinc battery is known for long (Volta discovered the primary silver battery), and became a commercial rechargeable battery thanks to the works made by André.
Silver zinc battery has high specific energies and power, but a limited cycle life.

Taking advantage of the mature technology of the zinc electrode used in its long cycle life nickel zinc battery, SCPS has introduced a new silver zinc battery which can be cycled more than 500 times. The US Army shows interest in this development work which has been granted by the DGA (French Ministery of Defense).

SCPS is now working on the next step which will be the optimization and adaptation of the battery to civilian markets, including portable electronics with the following key advantages :

- energy and power close to lithium-ion battery for a given volume,
- safety,
- low manufacturing cost with a complete recycling of metals at the end of life.