Articles tagged with Cathodes
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.
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.
Researchers created a 'smart' separator with a nanolayer of copper that detects shorting and provides early warning before overheating and bursting into flames. The technology aims to reduce battery fires, which have caused concerns in the aviation and electronics industries.
Scientists have developed a way to modulate the thermal conductivity of lithium cobalt oxide, a key material for rechargeable batteries. This breakthrough enables dynamic control of heat evolution and dissipation, leading to improved performance and safety.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a new battery design that incorporates an electrolyte with dual functions. This cooperative chemistry increases capacity and extends lifespan, enabling longer-lived disposable batteries for medical devices and other applications.
Researchers developed a new material to capture problematic polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries, increasing their lifespan. The battery's power capacity was maintained at 89% after 100 charge-and-discharge cycles.
Researchers from Japan have developed a new method to align the individual grains of lithium cobalt oxide in a cathode, resulting in improved Li-ion battery performance. The aligned structure allows for easier access for lithium ions, reducing stress and increasing efficiency, making it a major breakthrough in Li-ion battery technology.
A Korean research team developed a new cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that performs well even at the intermediate temperature range. The material has excellent oxygen reduction reaction and surface oxygen exchange, leading to improved efficiency and reliability.
Sandia National Laboratories researchers found that charging and discharging rates are limited by phase transformation initiation, contradicting previous assumptions. They used X-ray microscopy to study ultrathin slices of a commercial-grade battery, revealing a mosaic pathway of lithium-ion movement.
Researchers have discovered an inexpensive and easily produced metal-free catalyst that performs better than platinum in oxygen-reduction reactions. The catalyst is more stable and tolerant of carbon monoxide poisoning and methanol crossover.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed an all-solid lithium-sulfur battery with approximately four times the energy density of conventional lithium-ion technologies. The battery's use of abundant low-cost elemental sulfur addresses flammability concerns, while also increasing safety by eliminating liquid electrolytes.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered that the madder plant's purpurin can be used as a natural cathode for lithium-ion batteries, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional batteries. The team has built a half-battery cell with a capacity of 90 milliamp hours per gram after 50 charge/discharge cycles.
Researchers used high-power X-ray imaging to study a working lithium-sulfur battery, finding that sulfur particles largely remained intact during discharge. This challenges previous experiments that found sulfur was chemically transformed into Li2S-polysulfide sheets, which prevented the battery from operating.
Researchers at Arizona State University improved microbial fuel cell efficiency by modifying cathode materials and adjusting pH levels. By enhancing hydroxide ion transport, they increased power densities and reduced losses in MFC performance.
Four Argonne National Laboratory-developed technologies have been awarded R dashD 100 honors, including Globus Online for big data research and three battery materials for plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles.
Scientists have designed a battery cathode made of lignin byproducts, which may lead to cheaper and safer electrodes. The new cathode is comparable to those that require precious metals or rare raw materials.
Researchers at NIST and partners have demonstrated that the thickness of the electrolyte layer is crucial in determining the performance of nanoscale lithium batteries. The team found that below a threshold of 200 nanometers, electrons can cause a short circuit, leading to rapid discharge and breakdown of the electrolyte.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a hybrid energy storage device packed into a single nanowire, which shows promise as a rechargeable power source for nanoelectronics. The devices have good capacity but require further optimization to improve performance.
Ohio State University researchers conducted experiments to test commercially available Li-ion batteries thousands of times, finding irreversible changes at the nanoscale that lead to battery loss of charge. The study suggests that coarsening of electrode materials may be responsible for this loss.
Researchers at UC San Diego and NEI Corporation are designing new types of lithium-ion batteries with exceptional energy density, potentially used in NASA space exploration projects and consumer applications. The goal is to create commercially useable cathode materials with high capacity and structural stability.
Scientists have made progress in developing improved materials for high-performance, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can be woven into clothing. These conformable batteries could provide power for a range of devices, including smartphones and GPS units.
Dr. John Bannister Goodenough, a pioneer in lithium-ion batteries, and Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker, a leading expert on plutonium metallurgy, are recognized for their groundbreaking work in materials science and nuclear energy. They will share the Enrico Fermi Award, a prestigious US Government honor.
A Canadian research team has developed a lithium-sulphur battery that can store and deliver over three times the power of conventional lithium-ion batteries. The breakthrough involves using mesoporous carbon to improve the contact between sulphur and the conductor, resulting in exceptional electrochemical performance.
Researchers at MIT have successfully engineered viruses to build a cathode material, leading to the creation of a highly powerful and conductive lithium-ion battery. The virus-produced batteries demonstrate improved energy capacity and power performance compared to traditional rechargeable batteries.
Researchers at Penn State have developed stainless steel brushes that can produce hydrogen at rates and efficiencies similar to those achieved with platinum-catalyzed carbon cloth. The new design reduces costs by five times compared to traditional platinum catalysts, while maintaining high current densities and energy recovery.
A world-wide licensing agreement is reached for Argonne’s patented composite cathode materials, resulting in longer-lasting and safer batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles, cell phones, and laptops. The new technology enhances performance, life, and safety of lithium-ion cells.
Fuel cells face challenges such as membrane degradation, carbon corrosion, and platinum instability, leading to reduced durability. Researchers are working to understand the fundamental failure mechanisms and develop new materials or system approaches to mitigate these issues.
A team of researchers crafted a working radio from a single carbon nanotube, performing four critical roles: antenna, tunable filter, amplifier, and demodulator. The tiny device could have applications in radio-controlled devices, cell phones, and other fields.
A team of Penn State researchers successfully created a microbial fuel cell that consumes cellulose and produces electricity by pairing two types of bacteria. The fuel cell achieves a maximum power density of 150 milliwatts per square meter, which is lower than current designs but shows promise for future improvements.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new microbial fuel cell system that uses brush anodes and tubular cathodes to produce more power from wastewater. The system, which uses naturally occurring bacteria, can clean water while generating electricity, reducing the need for energy consumption.
Researchers have identified a new variation of a platinum-nickel alloy that significantly increases oxygen-reduction catalysis on the cathode in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This breakthrough could eliminate existing limitations and make PEM fuel cell technology more viable for transportation applications.
Researchers are developing a new combinatorial toolkit to evaluate hundreds of potential PEM fuel cell materials in a single experiment. The goal is to double membrane durability and cut costs in half. This project involves creating low-cost, thermally stable membranes using a 'formulation approach' that combines different polymers.
A new material, Li1-xNi1+xO2, was produced using the sol-gel method, resulting in better electrochemical performance. The research aimed to optimize the preparation conditions for this cathode material, which has a large discharge capacity and low cost.
The Penn State team has developed a cheaper microbial fuel cell that produces more electricity from wastewater, with the potential to power small devices. The new design uses carbon paper instead of a proton exchange membrane, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
A single-chambered microbial fuel cell prototype has been developed to efficiently treat wastewater and generate electricity. The design reduces energy demands and creates a continuous flow-through system, making it a promising approach for affordable wastewater treatment.
Researchers have made significant progress on a new approach to batteries inspired by nanotechnology, which could power miniature devices and enhance portable electronics. The nano-battery approach seeks to replace traditional batteries with particles measured in billionths of a meter, potentially enhancing power storage and production.
A team of MIT researchers has identified a new battery material that is cheap, light, and powerful. The breakthrough was achieved by predicting the composition of the material via computer models and testing it successfully, paving the way for the widespread use of electric cars.