Revolution in electrochemistry. A Belgian–Chinese breakthrough paves the way for lithium–nitrogen batteries.
Researchers from Belgium and China have identified the main barriers to the commercialization of lithium–nitrogen batteries. The roadmap they developed, published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, outlines not only how to build a stable next-generation battery, but also how to combine energy storage with the green production of chemical compounds.
How does a lithium–nitrogen cell work?
The operating principle of lithium–nitrogen batteries is based on a unique electrochemical reaction. During discharge, pure lithium reacts with gaseous nitrogen to form lithium nitride. During charging, this process should be reversed — electricity regenerates metallic lithium and releases nitrogen gas.
Although the first reversible version of this battery was demonstrated nearly a decade ago, the technology has remained stuck at the laboratory stage due to:
- poor cycle stability,
- slow nitrogen activation kinetics,
- degradation of electrodes and electrolytes caused by moisture or oxygen.
Researchers from the University of Namur (Belgium) and the Wuhan University of Technology (China) showed that improving catalysts alone is not enough. The key lies in a holistic cell architecture.
New architecture and AI support
In the published roadmap, the team led by Yu Li proposed a breakthrough concept of a flow battery with a specially assisted flow field that significantly improves nitrogen transport inside the cell. The researchers also recommend the use of ion-selective membranes that block gases, as well as rigorous testing using isotope labeling to unequivocally confirm the real conversion of nitrogen into lithium nitride.
To accelerate commercialization, the scientists propose leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms to rapidly discover new materials and optimize battery components.
Green chemistry of the future
The most exciting aspect of the technology is that it goes beyond traditional energy storage. This cell could serve as a completely new electrochemical platform for producing high-value nitrogen-containing chemicals (e.g., for the fertilizer or pharmaceutical industries). This would allow a single facility to combine green electricity storage with zero-emission industrial chemical production.
Currently, the international team is conducting advanced laboratory tests using iron-based nanocatalysts. Early results suggest that fully stable electrochemical reversibility of nitrogen is achievable under controlled engineering conditions.