COSMIC, a next-generation X-ray beamline, enables scientists to probe active chemistry and electronic properties at the nanoscale. It successfully demonstrated ptychographic computed tomography that mapped lithium-ion battery reactions in 3D.
Scientists are developing a new living sensor that can detect fuel leaks in real-time, allowing for quick repairs and minimizing environmental disasters. The sensor uses bacteria to detect gas leaks and can be placed on the outside of pipes, making it a versatile technique.
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A new catalyst developed by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers can significantly improve the efficiency of fuel cells by speeding up oxygen processing. This breakthrough could enable the widespread adoption of clean energy technology and reduce costs associated with producing hydrogen fuel, a key ingredient for fuel cells.
Researchers mapped battery materials with atomic precision, finding that surface structure differs from interior and optimizing performance by varying lithium-to-metal ratios. The study used advanced electron microscopy techniques to analyze cathode material structures, revealing new insights into phase transformations and capacity loss.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have discovered a new type of magnesium-oxide cathode material that promises higher energy density, improved safety, and reduced costs compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The breakthrough could enable more efficient and sustainable energy storage for renewable energy sources.
A new recycling method restores used cathode particles from spent lithium ion batteries, restoring charge storage capacity, charging time, and battery lifetime. The process reduces energy consumption compared to other methods and aims to address environmental concerns and economic issues related to battery waste.
A new lithium-rich battery developed by Northwestern University can cycle more lithium ions than its common counterpart, enabling higher capacity batteries that could extend the lifespan of smartphones and cars. By leveraging both iron and oxygen to drive the chemical reaction, the battery's capacity is significantly increased.
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Researchers at Kyushu University have developed a novel electrolytic flow cell that can produce glycolic acid (GC) from oxalic acid, offering a promising solution for energy storage. The device uses a polymer membrane and porous TiO2 catalyst to achieve high efficiency and capacity.
Researchers have developed a novel MOF shell-derived surface modification of Li-rich layered oxide cathode, enhancing its electrochemical performance. The LLO@C&NiCo cathode retains up to 95% capacity after 100 cycles and exhibits high rate capability.
Researchers at Stanford University and national labs uncover mechanism behind voltage loss in lithium-rich cathodes, paving the way for optimized performance. The discovery could enable batteries to store more energy, allowing electric cars to travel longer distances between charges.
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Scientists at Fudan University have designed a high-rate and long-life lithium-ion battery with improved low-temperature performance. The battery system features a cold-enduring hard-carbon anode and a powerful lithium-rich cathode, with the initial lithiation step integrated.
The new battery prototype uses a solid electrolyte and metal anode, enabling the storage of more energy while maintaining high safety levels. The researchers have tested the battery over 250 cycles, with 85% of its energy capacity still functional after that period.
Researchers found that microscopic defects in electrodes enable lithium to hop inside the cathode along multiple directions, increasing reactive surface area and allowing for more efficient exchange of lithium ions. This discovery challenges traditional thinking on how electrode shape should be optimized for battery performance.
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Researchers at Berkeley Lab report progress in creating new types of lithium cathode materials, which can store more lithium and be more stable. The discovery could lead to the development of more efficient and longer-lasting batteries.
Researchers warn of potential cobalt supply chain issues due to increasing lithium-ion battery demand for electric vehicles and portable electronics. They suggest strategies like enhancing recycling and developing new cathode materials to mitigate potential shortages.
Researchers at MIT have developed an 'air-breathing' battery that can store electricity for months, reducing costs to around $20-$30 per kilowatt hour. The battery uses sulfur and oxygen to generate charge, making it a potential solution for widespread renewable energy integration.
Researchers developed a low-cost battery using waste graphite, offering high safety and simplicity in production. The battery features a unique cathode material and can withstand thousands of charging cycles.
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The University of Central Florida research group created a new electrode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged thousands of times without degrading. The new technology has the potential to revolutionize energy storage and make it more sustainable.
Researchers have discovered a new design for magnesium batteries, increasing storage capacity to 400 mAh/g compared to earlier versions. The breakthrough involves inserting magnesium chloride into a titanium disulfide host, allowing for faster diffusion and higher energy density.
Engineers at UC San Diego developed stretchable fuel cells that extract energy from sweat to power electronics. The biofuel cells generate 10 times more power per surface area than existing wearable biofuel cells.
Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University found that electrode passivation in lithium-air batteries is triggered by the binding of superoxide anion with lithium ions. They suggested using solvents, electrolytes, and materials to inhibit this process, which could lead to more efficient battery operation.
Researchers have developed a new manganese and sodium-ion-based material that could potentially lower battery costs and improve ecofriendliness. The new material uses sodium instead of lithium, which is more abundant but has some drawbacks, such as lower energy density.
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A new study by Huazhong University of Science and Technology finds that maximizing energy density within the capillary chamber yields the longest plasma jet. Varying capillary dimensions, cathode diameter, and cathode tip length are key factors in achieving optimal performance.
Researchers developed a new type of cathode that addresses electrochemical stability issues in lithium-oxygen systems. The ultralight all-metal cathode outperforms carbon-based cathodes with higher capacity and improved stability for 286 cycles.
Rice researchers develop a graphene-nanotube hybrid anode that stores 3,351 milliamp hours per gram of lithium, close to the theoretical maximum and 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries. The anode material suppresses dendrite growth, allowing for efficient lithium storage.
Researchers have developed a new cathode material that uses porous Ti4O7 nanoparticles to confine polysulfides, resulting in high specific capacity and stable performance. This material has the potential to replace expensive and toxic heavy-metal compounds used in traditional lithium-sulphur batteries.
Electroplating enables the production of high-quality, high-performance battery materials, opening doors to flexible and solid-state batteries. The new method bypasses traditional powder and glue processes, resulting in 30% more energy storage and faster charging.
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Scientists have made a breakthrough in self-charging battery technology, enabling devices to harness and store energy using light. The technology has the potential to power portable devices such as phones indefinitely, eliminating the need for frequent recharging.
Researchers at TU Wien have found a way to explain the reasons why oxygen does not always enter fuel cells effectively. By making targeted alterations to the surface of fuel cells on an atomic scale and taking measurements simultaneously, they discovered that strontium atoms cause problems and cobalt can be useful in fuel cells.
Researchers at Yale University have created a new material that can be applied to any sulfur cathode, improving battery stability and cycle life. The gel-like coating increases the number of cycles to over 1,000, making it suitable for high-energy-density batteries.
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Scientists at Berkeley Lab discovered particle cracking in cathode materials during charging and discharging, reducing battery capacity and life. The research provides unprecedented mechanistic understanding of electrode material and potential ways to minimize cracking, leading to improved stability and longer battery lifespan.
A new computational design strategy identifies promising cathode coatings to protect lithium-ion batteries from degradation, extending device lifespan. Northwestern University researchers developed the approach using a massive materials database, ranking top candidates and accelerating experimental testing.
Researchers have developed a new battery test cell allowing them to investigate anionic and cationic reactions separately. This innovation could lead to the creation of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries with improved energy density, reducing the need for multiple charging cycles and minimizing gas formation.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a prototype of a next-generation lithium-sulphur battery, inspired by the cells lining the human intestine. The new design overcomes a key technical problem hindering commercial development and offers a fivefold energy density boost compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
A new study developed a mixed metal catalyst that enables both charge and discharge reactions in lithium-air batteries, overcoming key barriers to their development. This breakthrough offers opportunities for future research and potential applications in sustainable energy storage.
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Researchers are using naturally occurring fungi to extract valuable materials from waste batteries, including cobalt and lithium. The process uses oxalic acid and citric acid generated by the fungi to leach out the metals, with results showing up to 85% lithium and 48% cobalt extraction.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed an oxygen-assisted aluminum/carbon dioxide power cell that captures CO2 while producing electricity and a valuable oxalate. This technology has the potential to reduce energy consumption in carbon capture systems, making it more commercially viable.
Researchers at University of Toronto have created a biologically-derived battery that stores energy in flavin from vitamin B2, a green alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The battery has high capacity and high voltage, making it suitable for powering next-generation consumer electronics.
A new method to increase the robustness and energy storage capability of lithium-rich cathode materials has been discovered. Researchers found that introducing oxygen vacancies at the surface of the material using a carbon dioxide-based gas mixture improved its performance, particularly in high-energy applications like electric vehicles.
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Researchers have long struggled to understand the factors contributing to battery inefficiency. A new study led by Texas A&M University chemist Sarbajit Banerjee reveals that trapped electrons, which form 'puddles of charge,' are a major obstacle. By imaging these electron clusters using advanced X-ray microscopy, the team has gained i...
Researchers created a sediment Microbial Fuel Cell (sMFC) system that can remotely investigate the physiology and ecology of electrically active microbes in submerged field sites. The device's cathode depth affected microbial community composition and energy recovery from sediments.
The Materials Project has released a vast dataset of material properties, including 1,500 compounds and 21,000 organic molecules, to accelerate battery research. The data enables computationally driven design and discovery of new materials with improved performance and energy density.
Scientists at MSU have created a new cathode material for Li-ion batteries that can enhance charge rates drastically. The material demonstrated high charge/discharge rates while retaining over 75% of initial capacity, making it a promising contender for commercialized high-power cathode materials.
The USABC has awarded a $1 million contract to WPI to scale up a novel process for recycling lithium-ion batteries. The process recovers cathode materials, which can be reused in new batteries at a significant cost reduction.
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Scientists at DOE national laboratories discovered a simple manufacturing technique to form cathode material into tiny, layered particles that store energy while protecting themselves. This technique, called spray pyrolysis, is cheap and widely used, and could lead to cheaper and higher capacity lithium-ion batteries.
Berkeley Lab researchers have discovered a technique called spray pyrolysis that can improve the performance of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes, which are crucial for electric vehicle applications. By controlling surface chemistry, they were able to reduce surface reactivity and increase material stability.
A team of scientists from the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a hierarchical cathode material with two levels of complexity, protecting reactive materials from degradation. The structure allowed lithium ions to enter the material, enabling improved high-voltage cycling behavior.
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Berkeley Lab researchers developed a novel glass-polymer hybrid electrolyte that is compliant and conductive at room temperature. The new material shows signs of being compatible with promising next-generation cathode candidates such as sulfur and high-voltage lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide.
Researchers have developed a polymer blend that significantly improves light output from LEDs by manipulating hole-mobility and exploiting the difference in energy levels of the polymers. The optimized device achieves an ultrahigh efficiency of approximately 27 candelas per amp, outperforming a similar device using only Super Yellow.
A new safe and sustainable cathode material has been identified for low-cost sodium-ion batteries, addressing instability issues and paving the way for commercialization. The material's structure allows for sodium to be inserted and removed while retaining its integrity, enabling further development of sodium-ion batteries.
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Researchers used X-ray imaging and data analysis to study the mechanical properties of a cathode material called LNMO spinel. The study found that defects within the material move around when charged, causing changes in strain fields. This unique behavior may be used to design new battery materials with improved performance.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a rechargeable aluminum battery that offers a safe alternative to commercial batteries. The new technology boasts ultra-fast charging times of just one minute and can withstand over 7,500 charge-discharge cycles without losing capacity.
Researchers at Drexel University have created a two-dimensional carbon/sulfur nanolaminate that could be a viable candidate for use as a lithium-sulfur cathode, promising improved long-term stability and energy density.
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Researchers at University of California - Riverside developed a glass cage-like coating and graphene oxide to improve lithium-sulfur battery performance. The silica-caged sulfur particles provided substantially higher battery performance, and incorporating mildly reduced graphene oxide improved the design further.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a material that maintains a rechargeable sulphur cathode, overcoming a primary hurdle to building lithium-sulphur batteries. The breakthrough could lead to electric cars with three times further range and lower costs.
Researchers used x-rays to visualize the formation of a highly conductive silver matrix in lithium-based batteries, revealing its link to the battery's rate of discharge. The study suggests new design approaches and optimization techniques for improving battery performance.
A team of researchers from Euclid TechLabs and Argonne National Laboratory has demonstrated a plug-and-play field-emission solution based on ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) for microwave electron guns. The solution produces high-quality electron beams with low angle divergence and energy spread, comparable to photocathodes.
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Rice University scientists have developed a novel cathode for dye-sensitized solar cells using graphene/nanotube hybrids, improving efficiency and reducing costs. The new material has a huge surface area, allowing for more efficient electron transfer and better contact with the electrolyte.
Researchers at General Electric and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have collaborated on designing a plasma-based power switch, which could contribute to the US power grid's advancement and reliability. The switch utilizes a compact, low-cost design, potentially reducing utility bills and enhancing grid efficiency.
Researchers have developed a new type of energy-efficient flat light source using highly crystalline single-walled carbon nanotubes as field emitters, demonstrating potential for low-power lighting devices. The device has a brightness efficiency of 60 Lumen per Watt and requires only 0.1 Watt of power consumption.
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