A collaboration between the University of Nottingham and six research institutes across China is developing a salt-based battery that combines the performance of an oxide fuel cell and a metal-air battery at the same time as being fully recyclable, green, affordable, and safe.

The new battery has the potential to significantly extend the range of electric vehicles at the same time as helping the automotive industry go greener, the researchers say.

In their attempts to develop a better alternative to lithium-ion batteries, the research team initially tested a high-temperature, iron-air battery design that used molten salts as a type of heat-activated electrolyte for electrical conductivity.

As well as being cheap and inflammable, molten salts resulted in an impressive lifecycle as well as strong energy storage and power capability.