Batteries are nifty little things, aren't they? Small cylindrical pieces of metal that just pump energy into your devices. They seem like such a convenience, such an easy way to power up your tech. But, batteries aren't as great as many may think.

The typical batteries you'll find in the store—Energizer, Duracell, Kodak, Panasonic—all contain something called lithium. Lithium is an alkaline element that, when put in a battery, makes for a great energy transporter.

However, lithium isn't always a good thing. Here's why, and the five most promising alternatives to these kinds of batteries.

Why Are Lithium Batteries a Problem?

duracell batteries on a table

With lithium-ion batteries, the idea is that energy is stored in batteries—and then released as lithium ions. These travel between two electrodes (from the cathode to the anode), producing energy for our devices.

But lithium isn't exactly a friendly substance.

After batteries are disposed of, they begin to corrode. And this is where the problem begins. This corrosion releases the lithium, and other substances, within the battery, which then seeps into the soil, contaminating both the groundwater and surface water. This can be hugely problematic, and is very damaging to the environment.

Related: Don’t Dispose, Reuse: DIY Projects Using Old or Dead Batteries

So, now you know why lithium batteries aren't the best option when thinking about saving the planet. Let's now take a look at five alternatives.

1.Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuel cells are nothing new in the realm of energy production. These are electrochemical cells that combines both a fuel, and something called an oxidizing agent, to produce chemical energy.

This process requires a chain of reactions, involving a hydrogen atom being split into protons and electrons by two electrodes, called an anode and a cathode. The electrons then pass through a circuit, producing electricity.

hydrogen fuel cell diagram
Image Credit: Emma Ambrogi/Wikimedia Commons

The great thing about hydrogen fuel cells is that they have an energy-to-weight ratio that is 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries. Hydrogen is also extremely abundant, and can be produced from renewable energy sources. This makes the overall carbon footprint of hydrogen fuel cells far lower than that of lithium-ion batteries.

Related: Facebook Is Now Powered Entirely by Renewable Energy

A single fuel cell also has a much longer lifespan than lithium-ion batteries, which sometimes don't last much more than a week.

However, manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells isn't cheap, given that the souring of raw materials for the cells is an expensive process. Hydrogen is also extremely flammable, making it a pretty hazardous substance to be handling.

2.Redox Flow Batteries

Redox flow batteries, similarly to hydrogen fuel cells, are also concerned with producing electrochemical energy. However, redox flow batteries are constructed quite differently.

These batteries consist of two different substances, dissolved in liquids, that are separated by and pumped through a membrane. Through a series of reduction and oxidation reactions (hence the name red-ox), this chemical energy is converted to electrical.

redox flow battery diagram
Image Credit: Colintheone/ WIkimedia Commons

Like hydrogen fuel cells, redox flow batteries have a very long lifespan, and require very little maintenance. However, these batteries are pretty complex, and aren't exactly easy to manufacture.

There are a number of different elements required for these batteries to function, including sensors, pumps, secondary vessels, and power management. However, they're far less environmentally costly than lithium-ion batteries, and so are definitely a strong candidate in their replacement.

3.Solar Panels

Most of us have heard of these renewable energy producers. Solar panels are great in that they only require one energy source to function: the sun! And, of course, the amount of light that the sun shines on our planet every day is by no means finite, i.e. you can't run out of it.

These panels create electricity by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic (PV) cells, which produce DC (direct current) electricity, which is then converted to AC (alternate current) electricity via inverter technology.

photo of solar panels in a field

Solar panels are already massively popular around the world, with acres upon acres of land being dedicated to housing thousands of solar panels for electricity production. And, now, they are being considered in replacing batteries.

Related: Portable, Powerful Solar Panel: Maxoak SP120 Review

Take calculators, for example. These often rely on solar energy for functioning. However, it takes a tiny amount of electricity to power a calculator, so extra considerations need to be made if solar panels are going to replace lithium-ion batteries with more energy-intensive devices. But they are still a very viable option!

4.Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

These may sound a little similar to the lithium-ion batteries we're trying to get rid of here, but don't worry: there are some significant differences between the two. You may have come across these batteries under a different name: rechargeable batteries.

These are, of course, batteries that you can recharge using an electric output, so that you can use them again and again.

lithium rechargeable battery

While this does mean you have to use electricity to power the batteries, it is considerably less harmful than using traditional lithium-ion batteries, given their toxic implications.

Using rechargeable batteries is, of course, much less wasteful than using lithium-ion. On top of this, these batteries can be a lot more energy dense than the traditional versions. However, it can cost around three times more to produce these lithium-sulfur batteries, and it is far less common for them to be recycled. But they still outshine their predecessors, by far.

5.Bioelectrochemical Batteries

bacteria under a microscope

This type of energy production differs to all others listed here, in that it relies on biological organisms to work. Anerobic bacteria, a type of bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive, are used to process acetate with a reduction/oxidation method that releases electrons.

These electrons can then pass through a circuit to create electricity, and there, you've got yourself a battery.

However, this type of energy production is still in its testing phase, and the scientists working on this method have not yet been able to get it fully functioning for long spans of time. But, if this method was to become successful, it could be a game changer in the world of energy production.

Sustainable Alternatives to Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Becoming More Common

While some of these lithium-ion battery replacements are still in their preliminary phases, they do make for incredibly promising replacements in the near future.

To protect the planet for future generations, switching to more sustainable energy alternatives is critical. Who knows? It may not be long until lithium-ion batteries are a thing of the past.