Multivalent rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable battery technologies based on the use of metal anodes coupled to multivalent charge carrier ions (such as Mg2+, Ca2+ or Al3+) have the potential to deliver breakthroughs in energy density radically leap-frogging the current state-of-the-art Li-ion battery technology. However, both the use of metal anodes and the migration of multivalent ions, within the electrolyte and the electrodes, are technological bottlenecks which make these technologies, all at different degrees of maturity, not yet ready for practical applications. Moreover, the know-how gained during the many years of development of the Li-ion battery is not always transferable. This perspective paper reviews the current status of these multivalent battery technologies, describing issues and discussing possible routes to overcome them. Finally, a brief section about future perspectives is given.