Batteries have two electrodes and a separator, with an electrolyte between them which carries the charge.
There are several problems associated with using lithium for these batteries, including build-up of the metal inside the devices which can lead to short circuits and overheating.
Alternatives to lithium, such as sodium and potassium batteries, have not historically performed as well because they can only be recharged a limited number of times. This inferior performance is due to the larger sizes of sodium and potassium ions, and their ability to move through the porous carbon electrodes in the batteries.
They are also difficult to dispose of once they are at the end of their useful lifespan which creates an environmental problem because they use unsustainable materials.
Lithium is typically mined in countries such as Chile, Bolivia and Argentina which is destructive to the nearby environment and associated with poor human rights records.
But researchers...