Potassium-Ion Battery Technologies and Electrolyte Innovations

Potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) are emerging as a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion systems, owing to the natural abundance and low cost of potassium. The larger ionic radius and different solvation characteristics of K⁺ demand tailored electrode architectures and electrolyte formulations to achieve high rate capability and long cycle life. Recent developments in anode materials encompass graphitised carbons, soft carbons and heterostructured alloys engineered to accommodate volume changes and facilitate rapid K⁺ intercalation. On the cathode side, layered oxides and Prussian blue analogues have been refined to deliver high operating voltages and structural stability. In parallel, electrolyte innovations include concentrated salts, non-flammable solvents and functional additives that foster robust solid–electrolyte interphases, suppress parasitic reactions and enhance ionic transport. Gel-polymer and solid-state electrolytes are also under active investigation to improve safety, extend thermal range and enable scalable cell designs. Together, these advances chart a pathway towards reliable, high-performance PIBs for grid storage, renewable integration and electric transport.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A comprehensive study has characterised the ionic transport and thermodynamic properties of non‐aqueous K⁺ electrolytes based on potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in dimethoxyethane over a wide concentration range. The work demonstrates that KFSI:DME solutions exhibit higher salt diffusion coefficients and increased cation transference numbers compared with their lithium counterparts, translating into superior rate capability and low-temperature performance. Through tailored potassium‐metal electrodes and Doyle-Fuller-Newman simulations, the investigation reveals storage behaviour in K∥graphite cells, providing quantitative insights into diffusion kinetics, interphase formation and the design principles for next-generation electrolyte systems.

Potassium-Ion Battery Technologies and Electrolyte Innovations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in potassium-ion battery technologies and electrolyte innovations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Potassium‐ion battery (PIB): A rechargeable cell that uses K⁺ as the charge carrier between anode and cathode.
Electrolyte: The medium, liquid or solid, that conducts ions between electrodes.
Solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI): A passivation layer formed on the anode surface that regulates ion transport and prevents continuous electrolyte decomposition.
Cation transference number: The fraction of total ionic current carried by the cation in an electrolyte.
Ionic conductivity: A measure of an electrolyte’s ability to transport ions under an electric field.

References

1. Fundamental investigations on the ionic transport and thermodynamic properties of non-aqueous potassium-ion electrolytes. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Glyoxal-based electrolytes for potassium-ion batteries. Energy Storage Materials (2022).
3. Reticular Elastic Solid Electrolyte Interface Enabled by an Industrial Dye for Ultrastable Potassium‐Ion Batteries. Small Structures (2023).
4. Diglyme-based gel polymer electrolytes for K-ion capacitors. Energy Storage Materials (2023).