Lithium metal

That plate of smashed crab legs about to be cleared from the dining table and tossed in the trash might actually be the future of rechargeable batteries. A new discovery for its use in sodium-ion technology has researchers certainly believing so.

The excellent energy density of lithium metal could enable batteries to power smartphones for days, and by designing a new electrolyte that can be controlled via magnetic fields, scientists have now edged this technology a little closer to reality.

Branch-like growths called dendrites continue to plague next-gen battery designs of many types, but new MIT-led research claims to have uncovered the root of the problem, and shown how it can be negated through the use of mechanical stress.

As the world rushes toward "the greatest disconnect between supply and demand in the history of commodities," Snow Lake Lithium CEO Philip Gross talks us through his company's plans to open the world's first all-electric lithium mine in Canada.

Scientists at South Korea's National Research Council of Science & Technology have demonstrated a promising new battery architecture, and one that could lead to big improvements in capacity and charge times.

Scientists at Rice University have put forward a promising solution to lithium-metal battery failure, developing a film made of fine powder that can be brushed onto electrode surfaces to prevent the formation of dendrites.

As the source of power for many modes of clean transportation, improvements in battery technology stand to benefit vehicle performance in a number of important ways, as new research detailing a promising sub-zero battery design demonstrates.

Scientists at Japan's Tokyo Metropolitan University have taken aim at a common problem plaguing next-generation lithium metal batteries, finding a promising solution in a salty liquid that reduces problematic resistance between key components.

This year served up a stellar crop of battery advances that resulted from researchers thinking outside the box, reimagining these devices and the way they function. Let's take a look at the most creative and interesting examples.

Scientists have taken aim at inactive clumps of lithium that build up over a battery's lifetime and shown how they can be brought back to life to boost the performance of the device and potentially unlock next-gen designs with far greater densities.

Two promising avenues in the development of next-energy storage involve the use of lithium metal and an electrolyte that is solid rather than liquid, and new research brings these branches of battery research together in an exciting new breakthrough.

Scientists have used cellulose derived from wood as the basis for a solid battery electrolyte, which is paper-thin and can bend and flex to absorb stress as the battery is cycled, while also offering record high conductivity.