Energetic Iron(VI) Chemistry: The Super-Iron Battery

Higher capacity batteries based on an unusual stabilized iron(VI) chemistry are presented. The storage capacities of alkaline and metal hydride batteries are largely cathode limited, and both use a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The new batteries are compatible with the alkaline and metal hydride battery anodes but have higher cathode capacity and are based on available, benign materials. Iron(VI/III) cathodes can use low-solubility K(2)FeO(4) and BaFeO(4) salts with respective capacities of 406 and 313 milliampere-hours per gram. Super-iron batteries have a 50 percent energy advantage compared to conventional alkaline batteries. A cell with an iron(VI) cathode and a metal hydride anode is significantly (75 percent) rechargeable.