Argonne National Laboratory

A human-metabolism-inspired biofuel cell uses glucose and riboflavin to deliver 20 times more energy than similar previous tech. Made from cheap, eco-friendly substances, it offers energy storage for a world craving electrification.

Researchers are claiming a breakthrough in quantum communications, thanks to a new diamond-stretching technique they say greatly increases the temperatures at which qubits remain entangled, while also making them microwave-controllable.

The lithium-ion batteries at the heart of our transport future don't last forever, and researchers expect a massive influx of depleted units in the coming decade. A new breakthrough, however, could streamline our efforts to recycle them.

Scientists in the US have introduced a new player to the world of 2D materials in the form of an ultra-thin, ultra-strong material they've dubbed borophane, which they see one day finding use in advanced forms of electronics.

Owing to its abundance and low cost, lead is an alternative battery material with plenty of appeal, and scientists have just demonstrated how it can form the basis of a new anode that offers far greater storage capacity than graphite.

Researchers at the US Dept of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a new catalyst that can convert carbon dioxide and water into ethanol with "very high energy efficiency, high selectivity for the desired final product and low cost."

Despite advances in new battery designs, good old lithium-ion batteries are still the frontrunner. There’s plenty of room for improvement though, and now researchers have identified a new cathode coating that could make them safer and longer lasting.

"Broken nanodiamonds are forever," or so says a team of scientists at Argonne National Laboratory. By combining broken nanodiamonds with molybdenum disulfide layers, they've produced a self-generating, very-low-friction dry lubricant with hundreds of applications that lasts practically forever.

According to new research from MIT and the Argonne National Laboratory, throttling the use of nuclear power plants could compensate the output of renewable energy sources and lead to lower energy bills.​

Magnesium-ion batteries have potential if scientists can crack the problem of finding an efficient electrolyte. Now scientists have developed a solid-state material that appears to be one of the fastest conductors of magnesium-ions, which could lead to safer and more efficient batteries.

​All of the smartphones bursting into flames these days has us thinking about batteries. Specifically, we were wondering if the need to periodically discharge cell phone batteries to keep them conditioned is really necessary. So, as part of our regular One Big Question series, we asked an expert.

Researchers from the Argonne National Laboratory have created a new combination material from graphene and diamonds that's able to almost entirely overcome friction. The property, known as superlubricity, is highly sought after for its potential use in a wide range of mechanical systems.