lithium-ions

Asphalt derivative charges lithium batteries faster, prevents dendrite formation

By Faye Oney / October 3, 2017

Researchers have developed battery anodes made of an asphalt derivative that has the capability of charging lithium metal batteries 10–20 times faster than current lithium batteries already on the market. The material also helps prevent formation of dendrites.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / September 13, 2017

‘Rubber material’ discovered that could lead to scratch-proof paint for car, defects in next-generation solar cells can be healed with light, and other materials stories that may be of interest for September 13, 2017.

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Nanodiamonds create safer batteries by preventing dendrite formation

By Faye Oney / September 12, 2017

Researchers have uncovered a process to increase the safety of future lithium batteries. By adding nanodiamonds to an electrolyte solution, they were able to prevent dendrite growth, a major cause of lithium battery fires.

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Defect-free surfaces may be key to preventing formation of lithium dendrites, advancing solid-state batteries

By April Gocha / July 14, 2017

New research from MIT shows that firmness isn’t the most important parameter for developing a solid electrolyte that is effective against dendrite formation—instead, a defect-free surface, which doesn’t provide a place for dendrites to form, is key to a better battery.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / June 28, 2017

Transformer-like carbon nanostructure engineered, solar material for producing clean hydrogen fuel, and other materials stories that may be of interest for June 28, 2017.

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Video: Recycling glass bottles to build better batteries

By April Gocha / May 3, 2017

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have devised a technique to convert recycled glass bottles into nanosilicon anodes for next-gen lithium-ion batteries with the capacity to store almost four times as much energy as conventional anodes.

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Glass interlayer prevents dendrite formation to lead solid-state battery revolution

By April Gocha / March 7, 2017

A team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin is trying to revolutionize the battery world with a new and improved all-solid-state sodium-ion battery that has three times higher energy density than today’s lithium-ions.

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1-D gets easy: Simple technique effortlessly converts bulk materials into oxide nanowires

By April Gocha / January 26, 2017

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have devised a technique to transform bulk materials into oxide nanowires at room temperature and pressure, without the use of catalysts, toxic chemicals, or expensive processes.

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Ultrathin aluminum oxide layer boosts performance of garnet ceramic solid-state batteries

By April Gocha / January 17, 2017

Researchers at the University of Maryland have designed a way to insert an ultrathin layer of aluminum oxide in between a garnet ceramic electrolyte and electrodes of solid-state batteries, decreasing impedance by 300-fold and allowing the energy to flow.

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Five materials science wonders to watch in 2017

By April Gocha / January 6, 2017

Just as in 2015 and 2016, I’m going to peer into my crystal ball and make some predictions about what will be big in the materials science world in the coming year.

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