Progress toward potassium-ion batteries
Graphical abstract (Science and Technology of Advanced Materials)
July 5, 2025 – As demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continues to rise and lithium becomes increasingly expensive, potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are gaining attention as a promising alternative. Potassium is widely available, relatively low-cost, and shares similar electrochemical characteristics with lithium. However, for KIBs to be adopted on a large scale, anode materials with improved capacity, stability, and charge rates must be developed.
Researchers at Dongguk University in Seoul have provided an overview of the main types of anode materials for KIBs and the associated reaction mechanisms, including intercalation, alloying, and conversion. The review discusses various material strategies, such as carbon-based structures, metal alloys, and conversion-type compounds, evaluating their advantages, limitations, and recent developments.
The study also addresses key challenges, such as volume expansion, slow ion diffusion, and limited long-term stability, and outlines potential solutions. By summarizing the current state of research, this review contributes to the future development of KIB anodes for efficient energy storage.
The study was published on July 4 in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials under the title ‘Recent progress and challenges in potassium-ion battery anodes: towards high-performance electrodes.’
