Breakthrough in Energy Storage: The First Room-Temperature All-Solid-State Hydride Ion Battery

Published on Quantum Server Networks – Exploring the Future of Materials Science and Energy Innovation

Hydride ion battery schematic

Image credit: DICP / Chinese Academy of Sciences

A team of researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has achieved a milestone that could transform the future of clean energy storage. In a paper recently published in Nature, Prof. Chen Ping’s group unveiled the first room-temperature all-solid-state hydride ion battery – an innovation that overcomes long-standing challenges in hydride-based electrochemical devices.

Why Hydride Ion Batteries Matter

Hydride ions (H⁻) are lightweight charge carriers with a high redox potential, making them attractive for next-generation batteries. However, progress in this field has been limited by the absence of efficient solid electrolytes that can simultaneously offer fast ion conductivity, thermal stability, and compatibility with electrodes. These obstacles have prevented hydride ion batteries from competing with more established technologies like lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.

The breakthrough achieved by the DICP team addresses these issues through the design of a novel core–shell composite hydride electrolyte. Their material, denoted 3CeH3@BaH2, combines the high ion conductivity of cerium hydride (CeH3) with the protective stability of a barium hydride (BaH2) shell. This architecture provides a clear conduction pathway for hydride ions while ensuring robust chemical and thermal stability at room temperature.

Performance Highlights

Using the new electrolyte, the researchers constructed an all-solid-state hydride ion battery with the configuration: CeH2 | 3CeH3@BaH2 | NaAlH4. The cathode utilized sodium alanate (NaAlH4), a well-known hydrogen storage material. Key performance results included:

  • Initial discharge capacity of 984 mAh/g at room temperature
  • Retention of 402 mAh/g after 20 cycles
  • Operating voltage reaching 1.9 V, successfully powering a yellow LED lamp

Importantly, the use of hydrogen as a charge carrier prevents the formation of metallic dendrites, a common safety hazard in lithium-based batteries. This feature positions hydride ion systems as inherently safer alternatives for energy storage.

Implications for Clean Energy

The emergence of room-temperature, all-solid-state hydride ion batteries could open a new frontier in sustainable energy technologies. By combining high energy density with improved safety and material tunability, such systems may eventually power grid-scale storage, electric vehicles, and renewable energy integration.

Compared with lithium-ion batteries, which dominate today’s market, hydride ion batteries rely on more abundant and potentially cheaper materials. Their compatibility with hydrogen storage systems further strengthens their role in a future hydrogen economy, where green hydrogen acts as a cornerstone for decarbonizing power and transport.

The Road Ahead

While the reported performance is remarkable, challenges remain before commercialization. Long-term cycling stability, scaling of materials synthesis, and integration with practical device architectures must be addressed. Nevertheless, this pioneering work demonstrates the feasibility of hydride ion batteries at room temperature, setting the stage for accelerated research and industrial interest.

The publication of this work in Nature highlights its significance and the growing global momentum in exploring alternatives to lithium-ion storage. As demand for safer, greener, and higher-capacity batteries rises, hydride ion systems are poised to capture significant attention in both academia and industry.

Reference

Original article: Researchers develop the first room temperature all-solid-state hydride ion battery (TechXplore, September 2025)

*This blog article was prepared with the help of AI technologies.*

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