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Thorny issue plaguing lithium-ion batteries laid bare in new study

Researchers directly measured lithium dendrites' mechanical strength, finding they exhibit unexpectedly high strength and brittle behavior under stress. The study provides insights into how dendrites respond to physical stresses within a battery cell, shedding light on the challenge of scale and access that hindered previous research.

Breaking down the battery problem

UT Austin researcher Arumugam Manthiram is working to advance lithium-ion battery technology by understanding the chemistry of oxide cathodes. His research aims to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly battery materials, addressing supply chain disruptions and high costs.

A clear view to better batteries

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis developed an operando microscopy platform to study lithium plating in batteries. The platform revealed the conditions under which plating occurs, allowing for the development of performance maps to optimize fast-charging protocols and enhance battery performance.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Pioneering a new generation of lithium battery cathode materials

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a new range of battery materials that offer enhanced energy density, extended lifespan and reduced costs. The team's innovative approach focuses on stabilising the honeycomb structure by incorporating additional transition metal ions into the cathode material.

A new method to unlock vast lithium stores

Researchers at Columbia University have developed a faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly way to extract lithium. The new method uses temperature-sensitive solvent to extract lithium directly from brines found in deposits across the world.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

New process for stable, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have achieved a breakthrough in developing all-solid-state batteries with high energy density and durability. They successfully densified the solid electrolyte using gentle sintering and applied a thin passivation layer to prevent lithium dendrite formation.

Anode-free battery doubles electric vehicle driving range

Researchers developed an anode-free lithium metal battery that delivers nearly double driving range using the same battery volume. The battery's volumetric energy density of 1,270 Wh/L is nearly twice that of current lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

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Magnetic control of lithium enables a safe, explosion-free ‘dream battery’

A new hybrid anode technology has been developed that delivers higher energy storage while reducing thermal runaway and explosion risks. The 'magneto-conversion' strategy applies an external magnetic field to ferromagnetic manganese ferrite conversion-type anodes, promoting uniform lithium ion transport and preventing dendrite formation.

Unveiling how sodium-ion batteries can charge faster than lithium-ion ones

Researchers found that sodium-ion batteries using hard carbon negative electrodes can reach faster charging rates than lithium-ion batteries, thanks to the pore-filling mechanism. This process is limited by the efficiency of ion aggregation within the electrode's nanopores, which requires less energy for sodium insertion.

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Research upturns assumptions about battery failure

Researchers have uncovered root causes of battery failure, including nanoscopic strains that lead to cracking. The study identifies distinct mechanical failure modes and composition requirements for single-crystal cathodes.

Aluminum prevents 'rapid aging' in high-energy batteries

Researchers from POSTECH found that aluminum reduces internal structural distortion in cathodes, preventing oxygen holes and shortening battery life. By adding a small amount of aluminum, the team extends battery lifespan while improving energy density.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Development of 1-Wh-class stacked lithium-air cells

A joint research team from NIMS and Toyo Tanso has developed a carbon electrode that achieves higher output, longer life and scalability for practical lithium-air batteries. The electrode's hierarchically controlled porous structure results in high-output operation and improved durability.

A new quantitative rule for designing better batteries

Researchers have discovered a key factor that determines whether a lithium-ion battery can charge and discharge reversibly, enabling the rational design of electrolytes. The new metric enables efficient prediction of an electrolyte's suitability and accelerates improvements in battery performance.

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Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

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Spent LiMn2O4 cathodes supercharge photothermal polyester recycling

Researchers developed a photothermal catalyst, Li0.51Mn2O4, to upgrade spent lithium manganate oxides and waste PET into highly efficient recyclable materials. The study achieved high conversion rates and reduced fossil resource consumption by up to 77% compared to traditional thermal catalysis.

New molten salt method gives old lithium batteries a second life

Researchers have developed a new molten salt technique that restores the structure and performance of used high-nickel cathode materials, allowing for more efficient battery recycling. The approach, published in Energy & Environment Nexus, regenerates the material itself so it can be reused in new batteries.

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Light it up: Battery particles tell the true story of a battery's charge

Researchers at Purdue University have developed an optical technique to observe individual particles in a battery charging, enabling the analysis of heterogeneity in composite electrodes. This breakthrough allows for the creation of better batteries by understanding the distribution of charge within the electrode.

Flash Joule heating lights up lithium extraction from ores

Researchers developed a faster and cleaner method using flash Joule heating to extract high-purity lithium from spodumene ore. The technique achieved nearly instantaneous lithium extraction with 97% purity and 94% recovery, outperforming traditional methods.

Rice membrane extracts lithium from brines with greater speed, less waste

A new membrane developed by Rice University selectively filters out lithium from brines, achieving high selectivity and using considerably less energy. The membrane's design can be adapted for other valuable minerals like cobalt and nickel, and its durability makes it suitable for large-scale synthesis.

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Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

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Water’s density is key to sustainable lithium mining

A recent UMass Amherst study led by Daniel Corkran uncovers the physical mechanisms governing sustainable water usage in salares, overturning commonly held assumptions. The research suggests that companies should pump water from briniest patches, not freshwater portions, to minimize impact on wetlands and shores.

Porous radical organic framework improves lithium-sulphur batteries

A team of researchers has developed a new material that enhances the capacity and stability of lithium-sulphur batteries by trapping polysulphides in open pores, reducing battery life shortening. The material improves Li-S battery performance to over 1,500 cycles with minimal capacity loss.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

OU researcher earns NSF CAREER Award to engineer better EV batteries

University of Oklahoma mechanical engineering professor Dong Zhang is leading efforts to advance EV battery technologies, exploring advances in battery mechanisms and chemistries. His NSF-funded work aims to develop physics-based models to predict the performance of battery cells with silicon-graphite composite material.

Could a new method offer a sustainable solution for lithium recovery?

A new method uses narrow bandgap λ-MnO2 to extract lithium from salt water while desalinating it to generate freshwater. The method achieved high lithium selectivity and reduced energy demand by 87%, indicating its potential as a solution for both lithium recovery and water purification.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

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Recycling process for dry processed cathodes developed

A team from the University of Münster has developed a method for recycling dry-processed lithium ion battery cathodes, separating materials and granulating them for reuse. The process is attractive not only for sustainability but also for cost efficiency.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

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Lithium-sulphur batteries with lean electrolyte: problem areas clarified

Scientists used operando neutron tomography to visualize the dynamic wetting of lithium-sulphur pouch cells, gaining insights into cell failure mechanisms. The study found that discharge/charge processes improve electrolyte homogeneity, promoting electrochemical activation and enhanced capacity.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Spent EV batteries turbocharge plastic upcycling

A new photothermal catalyst made from recycled EV battery materials boosts the efficiency of plastic upcycling, converting polyester into valuable monomers. The process demonstrates significant improvements in conversion rates and reduced energy costs compared to traditional methods.

AI breakthrough unlocks 'new' materials to replace lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at NJIT used artificial intelligence to discover new porous materials capable of revolutionizing multivalent-ion batteries. The AI-driven approach uncovered five entirely new materials with large, open channels ideal for moving bulky multivalent ions quickly and safely. These findings offer a promising solution for the futu...

Carbon fiber boosts dry-processed battery performance

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new method to improve the strength and conductivity of dry-processed battery electrodes using long carbon fibers. The resulting batteries exhibit faster charging and discharging rates, reduced risk of overheating, and lower production costs.

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