The global EV battery industry is projected to exceed 600 MtCO2eq in emissions by 2050, mainly due to energy-intensive mining and refining processes. Shifting to less CO2-intensive battery chemistries like LFP could reduce emissions by 20%.
A computational study conducted by Brazilian researchers found that current density and active species concentration are the main variables affecting capacity loss. The approach successfully mitigated cross-contamination, providing an optimal flow between electrolyte tanks under different operating conditions.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science developed nanostructured hard carbon electrodes using inorganic zinc-based compounds, which deliver unprecedented performance and significantly increase the capacity of sodium- and potassium-ion batteries. The new electrodes improve energy density by 1.6 times compared to existing technologies.
Researchers from Tohoku University developed a special type of porous carbon sheet, graphene mesosponge sheet, which significantly improves the energy density and cycle stability in Li-O2 batteries. The GMS-sheet achieves high-performance standards with over 6300 milliampere-hours per gram.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to create energy-dense, safe batteries using low-melting alkali-based molten salt electrolytes. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of powerful lithium-metal batteries that operate safely at temperatures as low as 25°C.
The Beckman Institute's new Electrolab robot automates electrochemical experiments and data analysis, reducing manual effort and time for researchers. The instrument can explore alternative power sources and analyze chemical reactions to combat climate change.
Researchers developed a wireless, leadless pacemaker that can partially recharge its battery by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The device harvested approximately 10% of the energy necessary to pace the next beat, paving the way for longer battery life and reduced procedures for younger patients.
Researchers have developed a novel chloride-based solid electrolyte with exceptional ionic conductivity, addressing material limitations that hindered previous attempts. This breakthrough is expected to pave the way for commercialization of solid-state batteries, promising improved affordability and safety.
Researchers developed a fast-charging hybrid battery system that combines electrochemical generation of formic acid with a microbial fuel cell, enabling efficient energy storage. The system produced enough current for 25 hours of discharge and demonstrated potential applications in monitoring water toxicity.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2023
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a new technology to suppress lithium dendrite growth in all-solid-state batteries, which could increase energy storage and reduce safety risks. The innovative method, led by Professor Chunsheng Wang, stabilizes battery interfaces and prevents short circuits.
Researchers have incorporated molecular iodine into the SOCl2 battery electrolyte to increase discharge rate and enable efficient recharging. This breakthrough enables Li-SOCl2 batteries to be used in devices requiring low rates of energy discharge, increasing their practicality for routine energy storage.
Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia have developed the world's first rechargeable edible battery, utilizing food-grade materials like almonds and capers. The battery can power small electronic devices for a limited time and has potential applications in health monitoring, food storage, and children's toys.
Researchers investigated two strategies to improve the cycling performance of all-solid-state batteries. The first strategy involves coating the cathode surface, which improves electrochemical performance, but the second strategy using halide electrolytes shows promise despite its limitations. The study suggests that a combination of b...
A team of scientists has investigated the effect of initial temperature on Li dendrite morphology through temperature-dependent ionic diffusion coefficient, reaction coefficient, and conductivity. They found a unified picture for the seemingly contradictory dendrite-promoting and dendrite-inhibiting effects of increased temperature in ...
New technology enables self-sustaining modules to assemble, disassemble and recycle, offering unprecedented sustainability for electronic devices. The innovation is part of a larger field of Microelectronic Morphogenesis, which aims to replicate living systems through controlled form creation.
A team of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a framework for designing solid-state batteries with mechanics in mind. They highlighted the critical role of material properties and mechanical stressors in affecting SSBs during cycling, and proposed techniques to make electrolytes more ductile and anodes more stable.
Recent research highlights the excellent electrochemical performance of critical 3D printing materials in rechargeable batteries. The study outlines the typical characteristics of major 3D printing methods used in fabricating electrochemical energy storage devices and discusses crucial materials for 3D printing of rechargeable batterie...
Researchers at the University of Seville have developed a more efficient configuration for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell batteries, increasing their performance by up to 10%. The new design outperforms other options and reduces energy consumption, making it suitable for use in electric vehicles.
The incorporation of HsGDY into cathode promotes the absorption and conversion of lithium polysulfides, providing new ideas for high-energy density lithium-sulfur batteries. Ni foam facilitates large specific capacity and long-term stability at high current densities.
A breakthrough in battery technology has been achieved by City University of Hong Kong, overcoming the persistent challenge of voltage decay in lithium-ion batteries. The new development stabilises a unique honeycomb-like structure within the cathode material, resulting in longer-lasting and more efficient batteries.
Scientists discovered that solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer behaves like a semiconductor, causing electron leakage and leading to inferior battery performance. Minimizing organic components in SEI enables longer-lasting batteries.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a high-yield, low-cost method for reclaiming metals directly from mixed battery waste. The new process uses the 'flash' technique to separate critical metals, reducing energy and acid consumption by up to 100-fold and lowering carbon dioxide emissions.
The team developed poly(triphenyl piperidinium) based high-temperature proton exchange membranes with improved physicochemical properties, demonstrating enhanced proton conductivity and mechanical stability. The membranes showed promising performance in fuel cell applications, with the highest peak power density achieved at 210 °C.
Researchers developed a novel solid-state mechanochemical reaction to synthesize FCMs from PTFE and graphite, producing materials with enhanced storage capacity and electrochemical stability. The new method bypasses toxic reagents and offers a safer alternative for practical applications.
The researchers created nanoribbons made of phosphorus and tiny amounts of arsenic, which were able to conduct electricity at high temperatures. The arsenic-phosphorus ribbons have also turned out to be magnetic, opening up possibilities for quantum computers.
The University of Texas at Dallas will develop and commercialize new battery technologies, enhance domestic raw material availability, and train workers for the expanding battery industry. The Energy Storage Systems Campus will leverage $200 million in private capital.
Scientists initiate high voltage multi-electron reactions in NASICON cathodes to enhance the performance of aqueous zinc/sodium batteries. The study proposes using transition metal ion substitution to augment structural stability and increase capacity, offering a promising strategy for advancing the technology.
A team of researchers has made breakthroughs in harnessing low-grade heat sources for efficient energy conversion. They developed a highly efficient Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cycle (TREC) system that converts small temperature differences into usable energy.
Energy system models fail to accurately represent energy storage, potentially leading to unreliable grid operations and increased costs. Leading researchers from Argonne National Laboratory highlight the need for improved models to accommodate new technologies like solar power and grid energy storage.
Researchers at MIT and partners have discovered that variations in lithium ion flow rates are correlated with differences in carbon coating thickness, which could lead to improved battery efficiency. This technique allows for the extraction of insights from nanoscale data, offering potential applications beyond battery technology.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a previously unknown reaction mechanism that addresses the major shortcoming of lithium-sulfur batteries - their very short lifetimes. The new pathway prevents sulfur loss and performance decline in commercial-size cells, paving the way for more sustainable transportation options.
Researchers used X-ray tomoscopy to study freeze casting processes, observing the formation of complex, hierarchically structured materials with large surface areas. The technique provided high spatial and temporal resolution, revealing the dynamics of directional ice crystal growth and the formation of organic-looking structures.
A new battery design without a membrane has been developed by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, offering higher energy density and lower costs. The battery can generate nearly 4 volts of power, eliminating costly and inefficient membrane-separators.
Researchers have developed a lab-on-a-chip electrochemical testing platform to speed up the production of catalysts for Li-CO2 batteries. The new method enables quick screening of materials, studying reaction mechanisms, and practical applications, potentially contributing to negative emissions technologies.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology are developing a sustainable electricity storage system using AI optimisation and vanillin as the storage medium. The project aims to create an environmentally friendly system with high efficiency and safety for industry and renewable energy applications.
Researchers developed a free-standing LiPON film that promotes uniformly dense lithium metal electrochemical deposition under zero external pressure, opening the door to lithium metal solid-state batteries. The new approach yields fresh insights into LiPON's properties and interfaces.
Researchers have successfully grown high-quality single-crystalline T-Nb2O5 thin films with two-dimensional vertical ionic transport channels, enabling fast and dramatic changes in electrical properties. The material undergoes a significant electrical change upon Li insertion, allowing it to switch from an insulator to a metal.
Researchers develop low-cost, scalable energy storage system using cement and carbon black. The technology facilitates renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and tidal power by providing stable energy networks.
The research uses paraffin wax-filled tubes to absorb impact and heat, protecting nearby battery cells from damage. The design improves the safety and reliability of electric vehicles by minimizing potential damage from crashes or thermal issues.
Researchers at the University of Córdoba have designed a solar battery that can absorb light and store energy using a new material composed of 2D carbon nitride. This device combines optical simulations and photoelectrochemical experiments to achieve high performance, with potential applications in various fields.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new type of battery using aluminum foil that shows promising performance for safer, cheaper, and more powerful batteries. The batteries have higher energy density and greater stability than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
A team of researchers has designed an all-season thermal cloak that can cool electric vehicles by 8°C on hot days and warm them by 6.8°C at night without any external energy input. The cloak works through radiative cooling, using an effect called photon recycling to counteract temperature fluctuations during winter months.
A new flow battery design has achieved a record-breaking 60% increase in peak power using a dissolved simple sugar called β-cyclodextrin, which boosts battery capacity and longevity. The battery maintained its energy storage and release capabilities for over a year without significant loss of activity.
Researchers from Tokyo Tech have developed a new strategy to produce solid electrolytes with enhanced lithium-ion conductivity, preserving their superionic conduction pathways. The proposed design rule enables the synthesis of high-entropy active materials for millimeter-thick battery electrodes.
Researchers developed a novel battery electrode degradation diagnosis technology using digital twin technology, accurately diagnosing internal structure changes in virtual environments. This breakthrough innovation aims to identify root causes of performance degradation and offers precise measurements of electrochemical properties.
A Portland State professor is studying the environmental consequences of the renewable energy transition, including lithium mining and battery manufacturing. The research aims to balance benefits with burdens on underserved communities, through interviews, focus groups, and workshops.
Scientists discovered that a thin layer of charged lithium atoms moving across anode and cathode is crucial for the battery's excellent performance. The discovery could lead to more energy-dense, safer, and faster-charging batteries.
Researchers have developed a hybrid battery system that stores electricity and produces valuable chemicals, such as furfuryl alcohol and furoic acid. The new battery increases the cost efficiency of the battery system, making it a step towards improving the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of rechargeable batteries.
Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed a faster way to synthesize CoSn(OH)6, a powerful catalyst required for high-energy lithium–air batteries. The new method uses solution plasma-based synthesis and achieves highly crystalline CSO crystals with improved catalytic properties.
Researchers have developed a high-energy cathode, Na4MnCr(PO4)3, capable of three-electron reactions. The material exhibits an ultra-high energy density of 523.6 Wh kg^-1, outperforming existing phosphate cathodes.
Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a solid electrolyte material for all-solid-state batteries, enabling rapid movement of lithium ions at room temperature. The achievement brings closer the realization of all-solid-state batteries and their adoption in electric vehicles.
A research team has developed an organic redox polymer that surpasses the capacity of graphite, enabling aluminium-ion batteries to store up to 167 milliampere hours per gram. The battery retains 88% of its capacity after 5,000 charge cycles at 10 C.
Researchers found that rail-based mobile energy storage can cost-effectively provide backup power for extreme events, potentially saving the power sector up to 60% of transmission line costs. The US rail network has the capacity to bring energy where it's needed, and this technology could work well in regions with robust freight capaci...
Chronic exposure to low levels of contaminant metals through household items, air, water, soil, and food increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Monitoring environmental metal levels and testing for exposure are key steps to implement public health initiatives.
Researchers investigated the tradeoff between reducing CO2 emissions and increasing renewable energy supply in office buildings. They found that access to the power grid can mitigate the impact of weather variability, but extreme weather events increase battery storage costs.
A new study estimates that the overall benefits of switching ride-hailing vehicles from gasoline to electric would be very modest, with a 3% gain per trip. The study found that traffic-related factors, such as congestion and crash risk, dominate societal costs, outweighing emissions reductions.
Researchers used X-ray computed tomography to visualize dendrite failure in unprecedented detail, revealing separate processes driving initiation and propagation of cracks. The findings point to overcoming technological challenges of lithium metal solid-state batteries, which could improve EV battery range, safety, and performance.
Researchers have successfully characterized a single atom using X-ray beams, detecting its elemental type and chemical properties. This breakthrough could revolutionize fields like quantum information technology, environmental science, and medical research by enabling the study of individual atoms.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered a method to press solid electrolytes, eliminating air pockets that block ion flow and increasing conductivity by nearly 1,000 times. This breakthrough enables unprecedented control over internal structure, paving the way for industrial-scale processing and more reliable batteries.
Researchers from GIST have developed a hydrotropic-supporting electrolyte to enhance the solubility of organic redox molecules in aqueous systems. This improvement enables the creation of high-energy-density electrochemical capacitors with potential applications in redox flow batteries.