Folded or cut, this lithium-sulfur battery keeps going

19-Sep-2024 - Most rechargeable batteries that power portable devices, such as toys, handheld vacuums and e-bikes, use lithium-ion technology. But these batteries can have short lifetimes and may catch fire when damaged. To address stability and safety issues, researchers reporting in ACS Energy Letters have ...

Completely stretchy lithium-ion battery for flexible electronics

This new way of creating fully stretchable, solid batteries could be a promising step forward for wearable or implantable devices that flex and move with the body

19-Jul-2024 - When you think of a battery, you probably don’t think stretchy. But batteries will need this shape-shifting quality to be incorporated into flexible electronics, which are gaining traction for wearable health monitors. Now, researchers in ACS Energy Letters report a lithium-ion battery with ...

This salt battery harvests osmotic energy where the river meets the sea

26-Apr-2024 - Estuaries — where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea — are great locations for birdwatching and kayaking. In these areas, waters containing different salt concentrations mix and may be sources of sustainable, “blue” osmotic energy. Researchers in ACS Energy Letters report creating a ...

Next-generation batteries could go organic, cobalt-free for long-lasting power

22-Jan-2024 - In the switch to “greener” energy sources, the demand for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is surging. However, their cathodes typically contain cobalt — a metal whose extraction has high environmental and societal costs. Now, researchers in ACS Central Science report evaluating an ...

Crab shells could help power the next generation of rechargeable batteries

This work could help develop more sustainable battery technologies

15-Mar-2023 - Anybody who has ever enjoyed fresh crab legs or lobster tails can attest to how difficult it is to get through their tough shells. But instead of just throwing them away, researchers are “upcycling” these shells into porous, carbon-filled materials with a wide variety of uses. Now, a team ...

Putting the brakes on lithium-ion batteries to prevent fires

New technology could make Li-ion batteries safer without having to sacrifice their performance

17-Nov-2022 - Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are used to power everything from smart watches to electric vehicles, thanks to the large amounts of energy they can store in small spaces. When overheated, however, they’re prone to catching fire or even exploding. But recent research published in ACS’ Nano Letters ...

Lithium-ion batteries that last longer in extreme cold

A lithium-ion battery made with a bumpy carbon-based anode material maintained its rechargeable storage capacity in extreme cold

13-Jun-2022 - When temperatures fall below freezing, cellphones need to be recharged frequently, and electric cars have shorter driving ranges. This is because their lithium-ion batteries’ anodes get sluggish, holding less charge and draining energy quickly. To improve electrical performance in the extreme ...

Expanding the temperature range of lithium-ion batteries

24-Jun-2019 - Electric cars struggle with extreme temperatures, mainly because of impacts on the electrolyte solutions in their lithium-ion batteries. Now, researchers have developed new electrolytes containing multiple additives that work better over a wide temperature range. Lithium-ion batteries are widely ...

3D-printed lithium-ion batteries

18-Oct-2018 - Electric vehicles and most electronic devices, such as cell phones and laptop computers, are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Until now, manufacturers have had to design their devices around the size and shape of commercially available batteries. But researchers have developed a new method to 3D ...

Nanowires could make lithium ion batteries safer

26-Apr-2018 - From cell phones and laptops to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are the power source that fuels everyday life. But in recent years, they have also drawn attention for catching fire. In an effort to develop a safer battery, scientists report that the addition of nanowires can not only ...