Harvard Scientists Develop Water-Based Alternative to Lithium-Ion Batteries

As lithium-ion batteries are becoming an increasingly important part of technology and innovation, there are growing concerns over their safety. After Samsung's disastrous Galaxy Note recall (and subsequent factory fire), the public became well aware of the possible risks lithium-ion batteries can pose.

The problem is, consumers still want tech products that hold charges for long periods of time, but manufacturers need to work within the boundaries of product safety guidelines. This might seem like a difficult balancing act, but a team of Harvard scientists might have made things a little easier.

The new battery they developed would only lose 1 percent of its capacity for every 1,000 charge cycles. Compare that to newer MacBook Pros, which need a new battery after around 1,000 charges, according to The Daily Dot.

What's more, this new battery is made with a water-based solution. The team modified feerrocene and viologen in the batteries' electrolytes to make them soluble in water. This makes it less toxic than the lithium-ion batteries used in Samsung's devices, and it would, theoretically, have less of an environmental impact through waste.

The battery also would excel in storing solar energy, which could benefit larger programs, like electric cars, and could benefit the growing renewable energy industry in the U.S.

For right now, there's no timeline for when this product will reach the market, but it's always exciting to see innovation in product safety and renewable energy.