Lithium iron phosphate is a widely used cobalt-free cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. It is known to experience certain kinds of defects in its crystal structure, however, and a recent study led by researchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology explores the existence of hydroxyl groups in phosphorus vacancies.
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Lithium-ion batteries are abundant in many everyday devices, but the resources available to teach children how these batteries work and why they are important are limited. A team of researchers from the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemistry developed a unique and fun approach to explaining Li-ion battery operation using tower block games like Jenga.
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Researchers from Donghua University in Shangai showed separators made from oxide ceramic films could improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries, which tend to catch on fire when their polymeric separators fail.
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Ultra thin lens resolves chirality and color, photovoltaics that mimic rose petals, and other materials stories that may be of interest for June 29, 2016.
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Flexible solar cells could happen, industrial nanoparticles pose no threat, and other materials stories that may be of interest for March 2, 2015.
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Mantis shrimp inspiration, hematite re-growth, and other materials stories that may be of interest for June 24, 2015.
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Stilbene crystals detect radioactivity, worlds largest stretchy database, and other materials stories that may be of interest for April 15, 2015.
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Ceramic matrix composites take on jet engine, high-temperature superconductivity advances, and other materials stories that may be of interest for March 11, 2015.
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Researchers at ETH Zurich are among the many who are looking for new materials to make better batteries to meet tomorrow’s energy needs. Unlike others, however, their new candidate threatens to shatter the competition.
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The recycled rubber we so readily discard—some 290 million tires each year—could someday provide electricity to our electric vehicles or store solar or wind energy.
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