A New Spark in Energy Science: Researchers Build First Hydride-Ion Battery Prototype

Hydride ions (H⁻), known for their exceptionally low mass and high redox potential, have long intrigued scientists as potential charge carriers for next-generation electrochemical devices. Their unique properties suggest the possibility of batteries that are lighter, safer, and more energy-dense than current lithium-based technologies. Yet despite this promise, practical applications of hydride ions have been limited by one major challenge — the absence of electrolytes that combine fast hydride-ion conductivity with thermal stability and electrode compatibility.

That scientific barrier may now be closer to being overcome, a research team led by Prof. CHEN Ping from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), reported the successful development of a core–shell hydride-ion electrolyte and the construction of the world’s first rechargeable hydride-ion prototype battery.

The team’s innovation lies in a heterojunction-inspired design that integrates two hydride materials into a composite structure. Researchers synthesized a core–shell composite hydride, denoted as 3CeH₃@BaH₂, in which a thin shell of barium hydride (BaH₂) encapsulates a core of cerium hydride (CeH₃). This architecture exploits the superior hydride-ion conductivity of CeH₃ while taking advantage of BaH₂’s thermal and electrochemical stability. The result is a material capable of rapid hydride-ion transport at room temperature, coupled with remarkable stability during operation — a crucial step toward practical hydride-ion devices.

Building upon this electrolyte breakthrough, the researchers constructed an all-solid-state hydride-ion prototype battery with the configuration CeH₂ | 3CeH₃@BaH₂ | NaAlH₄. The team selected sodium alanate (NaAlH₄) — a well-known hydrogen storage material — as the cathode’s active component. When tested, the prototype battery demonstrated an initial discharge capacity of 984 mAh/g at room temperature, maintaining 402 mAh/g after 20 charge–discharge cycles.

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To further validate its performance, the team assembled the cells in a stacked configuration, achieving an operating voltage of 1.9 volts — enough to power a yellow light-emitting diode (LED). This simple but striking demonstration showcased the battery’s potential for real-world energy applications. The achievement marks a pivotal milestone, representing a shift from “fundamental concept” to “experimental verification” in hydride-ion battery research.

Beyond its immediate technical success, the work holds deeper significance for the future of clean energy technologies. Unlike conventional metal-ion batteries, hydride-ion batteries use hydrogen as the charge carrier, effectively preventing the formation of metal dendrites that can cause short circuits and safety risks in lithium-based systems. This intrinsic advantage points toward safer and more durable rechargeable batteries.

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Moreover, hydride materials possess tunable chemical and structural properties, allowing scientists to engineer their performance for specific energy storage and conversion applications. As research in this field expands, such flexibility could enable a new class of sustainable, high-performance batteries capable of supporting renewable energy systems and next-generation electric devices.

The development of the first hydride-ion prototype battery by Prof. Chen’s group is not merely an incremental improvement — it represents a conceptual leap in battery science. By demonstrating that hydrogen can serve as a viable charge carrier in solid-state systems, the study opens an entirely new pathway for energy storage innovation, bringing the vision of safe, efficient, and sustainable hydride-ion batteries closer to reality.