Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have announced a major breakthrough in the field of alternative energy sources—they have created the first rechargeable hydride-ion battery.

Previously, there were no suitable electrolytes that combined high ion mobility, stability, and compatibility with electrodes. A team led by Professor Ping Chen from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has developed a new hydride-based electrolyte with a unique “core-shell” structure, which ensures fast and stable ion conductivity at room temperature.

Based on this discovery, a prototype solid-state battery was assembled, using NaAlH₄ hydrogen storage material as the cathode. The device showed a high initial capacity of almost 1,000 mAh/g, and even after several dozen cycles of operation, it retained a significant portion of its charge. In tests, the battery reached a voltage of 1.9 V and was able to power an LED lamp, proving its practical viability.

The main advantage of the new technology is that the use of hydrogen as a charge carrier eliminates the formation of dendrites, which is the main problem with lithium-ion batteries. This paves the way for the creation of safer, more durable, and more environmentally friendly energy storage systems. Scientists note that, thanks to the tunable properties of hydride-based materials, such batteries could become a key solution for the clean energy of the future.