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Silicon sponge improves lithium-ion battery performance

Researchers developed a porous silicon material to replace traditional graphite in lithium-ion batteries, allowing for more energy storage capacity and longer runtime. The new material maintained over 80% of its initial capacity after 1,000 charge-and-discharge cycles.

NREL bolsters batteries with nanotubes

Researchers at NREL created high-performance, binder-free electrodes using carbon-nanotube-based materials to improve battery life and performance. The technology has attracted interest from industry and is being licensed for volume production.

Charging portable electronics in 10 minutes

UC Riverside researchers create three-dimensional silicon-decorated carbon-nanotube clusters architecture for high reversible capacity and excellent cycling stability. The innovative design enables rapid charging times, nearly 16 times faster than conventional graphite-based anodes.

Silly Putty material inspires better batteries

Researchers at UC Riverside have developed a new lithium-ion battery material with over three times the energy storage capacity of current carbon-based anodes. This innovation has significant implications for industries like electronics and electric vehicles.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Researchers build nonflammable lithium ion battery

Scientists at UNC Chapel Hill have identified a nonflammable alternative to the inherently flammable electrolyte used in current lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for safer and more efficient electric vehicles. The new material, PFPE, exhibits unique properties that make it an ideal replacement, with potential applications in aeros...

Battery development may extend range of electric cars

A new anode design for lithium-sulfur batteries quadruples their lifespan, bringing them closer to commercial use. The hybrid anode's development could enable longer electric car drives and cheaper storage of renewable wind energy.

Special topic: Airworthiness and fatigue

The International Conference on Airworthiness and Fatigue explored the importance of energy efficiency in aviation transport, focusing on mechanical, electrical, and chemical effects. Researchers emphasized the need for 'Multiscaling and Mesomechanics' to balance these effects and ensure system stability.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

UT Arlington engineers making batteries safer, cooler

Researchers at UT Arlington are working on a $152,077 Office of Naval Research grant to improve the thermal properties of lithium-ion batteries. They aim to devise better designs for cooling and operating these batteries safely in high-power applications, reducing the risk of fires and battery degradation.

Battery design gets boost from aligned carbon nanotubes

Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a new flexible nano-scaffold using aligned carbon nanotubes to improve the stability of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The design shows promise in increasing battery capacity and reducing pulverization, a significant challenge in using silicon as an electrode material.

'Popcorn' particle pathways promise better lithium-ion batteries

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.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Promising material for lithium-ion batteries

Scientists at TUM have synthesized a novel framework structure consisting of boron and silicon, which could serve as an electrode material. The LiBSi2 framework has channels that allow for the storage and release of lithium atoms, making it a promising alternative to pure silicon.

More emphasis needed on recycling and reuse of Li-ion batteries

A new study suggests that Li-ion battery disposal can lead to environmental and human health threats due to the release of toxic materials. The American Chemical Society recommends stronger government policies to encourage recovery, recycling, and reuse of lithium-ion battery materials.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Add boron for better batteries

Researchers at Rice University found that adding boron to graphene improves its ability to store lithium ions, resulting in a capacity two times larger than graphite. The discovery also enables the material to hold a proper voltage, making it suitable for commercial use.

New technique to improve quality control of lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new technique to detect flaws in lithium-ion batteries during manufacturing, including uneven coating and thickness variations. The 'flash thermography measurement' method uses heat and thermal imaging to quickly identify defects, which can impact battery life and reliability.

Understanding the life of lithium ion batteries in electric vehicles

The study found that lithium-ion battery performance begins to suffer at temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and proper charging habits can extend its life. The researchers recommended second-life applications for batteries after they reach their full capacity, such as utility storage or recycling.

Tortuous paths hamper ion transport

Scientists have created a three-dimensional map of electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries, revealing their unique structures and impact on charging speeds. The study's findings suggest that using round particles instead of plate-like ones can significantly improve the battery's performance.

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.

Clever battery completes stretchable electronics package

A new stretchable lithium-ion battery has been developed by Northwestern University researchers, enabling true integration of electronics and power into a small, stretchable package. The battery can be stretched up to 300 percent of its original size without losing functionality.

ORNL research paves way for larger, safer lithium ion batteries

Scientists at ORNL developed a high-performance, nanostructured solid electrolyte for more energy-dense lithium ion batteries, overcoming safety concerns and size constraints. The ability to use pure lithium metal as an anode could yield batteries five to ten times more powerful than current versions.

Using snail teeth to improve solar cells and batteries

Assistant professor David Kisailus develops nanoscale materials using the chiton's radula, a conveyor belt-like structure with 70-80 parallel rows of teeth. The resulting materials can improve the efficiency of solar cells and lithium-ion batteries.

Engineer making rechargeable batteries with layered nanomaterials

Researchers develop efficient methods for creating nanomaterials and lithium-ion batteries using graphene films grown on copper and nickel foils. Graphene-based battery shows improved performance due to well-defined Bernal Stacking, while tungsten disulfide nanosheets store and release lithium ions through conversion reactions.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Rice cultivates green batteries from plant

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.

Ancient red dye powers new 'green' battery

Researchers from City College of New York have developed a non-toxic and sustainable lithium-ion battery powered by purpurin, a natural plant dye extracted from the madder plant. The battery's production process is simpler and less expensive than traditional Li-ion batteries, with fewer environmental risks.

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.

New energy storage device based on water

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum are developing an aqueous lithium-ion battery that could improve the performance, lifespan, and price-performance ratio of existing batteries. The goal is to produce a more efficient and cost-effective energy storage device for use in power supply systems.

Fluoride shuttle increases storage capacity

Researchers at KIT develop a new concept for rechargeable batteries based on fluoride shuttles, increasing storage capacity by several factors. The fluoride-ion battery offers improved safety properties without lithium, with potential applications in mobile devices.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Batteries smaller than a grain of salt

Scientists have created tiny energy storage devices, no bigger than a grain of sand, with the potential to power micro- and nano-scale devices. The new batteries are part of a larger effort to miniaturize lithium-ion technology, which could lead to breakthroughs in fields like medicine and electronics.

Silicon strategy shows promise for batteries

Rice University scientists have created a new type of silicon anode that can store more than 10 times the amount of lithium as current graphite-based anodes. The breakthrough could lead to significant increases in battery performance and lifespan, making electric cars more efficient and cost-effective.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Scientists home in on lithium battery safety flaws

Researchers at Cambridge have developed a way to visualize chemistry in lithium-ion batteries using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This technique could help identify the formation of dendrites, which cause short circuits and fires, enabling the development of safer battery technologies.

MIT makes significant step toward lightweight batteries

A team of MIT researchers has made significant progress on lithium-air batteries by identifying metal catalysts that can improve efficiency and increase energy density. The study finds that electrodes with gold or platinum catalysts show higher activity and efficiency than simple carbon electrodes.

Lithium-ion anode uses self-assembled nanocomposite materials to increase capacity

A new high-performance anode structure based on silicon-carbon nanocomposite materials has been developed, significantly improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The self-assembly technique creates rigid spheres with open internal channels that allow for rapid entry of lithium ions and accommodate expansion without cracking.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Argonne researchers win 2 R&D 100 Awards

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have won two R&D 100 Awards for their work on ultra-high power lithium-ion batteries and ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) mechanical seals. These innovations demonstrate the scientific know-how and innovative spirit of Argonne researchers.

Sandia researchers seek ways to make lithium-ion batteries work longer, safer

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are developing strategies to make lithium-ion batteries more tolerant to abusive conditions, with the goal of increasing their lifespan and reducing costs. The team's work could pave the way for the widespread adoption of hybrid electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries.