More reports are coming out of Massachusetts about how Worcester Polytechnic Institute engineers are improving on Thomas Edison-era science. The team is specifically focused on iron-alkaline batteries first developed by Edison at the beginning of the 20th century, per Worcester and the BBC. In short, the packs utilize abundant, cheap iron in an alkaline battery anode. It’s a big advantage over expensive lithium-ion packs that require far more costly metals. But Edison’s version wasn’t very efficient and had low storage capacity, in part because of the formation of hydrogen gas during operation, all according to Worcester’s summary. The New England experts discovered that adding the silicon-oxygen compound silicate to the electrolyte cancels gas production, resulting in better-performing batteries. For reference, the U.S. Department of Energy reported that ions move between the anode and cathode, through a battery’s electrolyte, during operation.

Full story : Engineers address major issue with Thomas Edison-era energy tech — and it could make waves in the battery industry.