Batteries

Researchers have developed a new electrode component for vanadium redox flow batteries that is said to outperform current solutions, thanks to the inclusion of an ingredient found in shrimp shells called chitin.

Using silicon as the anode could significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, but maintaining that capacity has proven a problem. Now scientists in Korea have come up with a solution by "pre-loading" the electrode.

Scientists at Brown University are reporting a new material that overcomes some of the key hurdles of solid-state batteries, using a delicate mix of ceramics and the wonder material graphene to produce the toughest solid electrolyte to date.

An international team of scientists has found antimony crystals spontaneously hollow out during charge-discharge cycling, which could enable lithium ion batteries to hold far more energy without sacrificing battery lifetime.

Swapping batteries in ebikes is pretty common, but things get more complicated for electric cars. EV maker Nio has had swappable batteries at the heart of its design language for a while now, and has recently celebrated its 500,000th battery swap.

Scientists at Washington State University have come up with a new design for a sodium-ion battery that offers comparable energy capacity and cycling ability to some lithium-ion batteries already on the market.

We've recently been hearing about solid state batteries, which have some definite advantages over their conventional counterparts. Although they're still not quite ready for everyday use, a new butter-like substance could help change that.

Among the promising alternatives to today's energy storage technologies are lithium-sulfur batteries, though they tend to quickly degrade and die. A new design promises to change that through the integration of a rare metalloid called tellurium.

A new technology out of Purdue University is a shining example of using green tech to craft next-gen batteries, with scientists using a common form of plastic waste to craft a key component through the use of standard household microwave technology.

Researchers out of the Chinese University of Hong Kong have used a polymer commonly found in skin cream as a stabilizing agent for an aqueous lithium-ion battery, keeping costs and toxicity low and creating a stable voltage for common usage.

A new type of experimental proton battery is built with entirely organic components, making it much more environmentally friendly than most. On top of that, it can also be charged in a matter of minutes and can function at very low temperatures.

Scientists tinkering with the design of lithium-ion batteries have come up with a new electrolyte they say can offer greater safety and an ability to operate at higher voltages, promising smartphones and electric vehicles with longer run times.