ScienceDaily: Battery News

More emphasis needed on recycling and reuse of Li-ion batteries

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

The discovery of potential environmental and human health effects from disposal of millions of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries each year has led scientists to recommend stronger government policies to encourage recovery, recycling and reuse of lithium-ion battery materials.

Fastest measurements ever made of ion channel proteins

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Engineers have used miniaturized electronics to measure the activity of individual ion-channel proteins with temporal resolution as fine as one microsecond, producing the fastest recordings of single ion channels ever performed. They designed a custom integrated circuit to perform these measurements, in which an artificial cell membrane and ion channel are attached directly to the surface of the amplifier chip.

Add boron for better batteries

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:17 EDT

A graphene-boron compound is theoretically capable of storing double the energy of common graphite anodes used in lithium-ion batteries.

New endurance record for small electric unmanned aerial vehicle

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Using liquid hydrogen fuel stored in a new NRL-developed cryogenic fuel storage tank, the flight shatters the previous 26-hour record set by the UAV in 2009.

New technique to improve quality control of lithium-ion batteries

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:45:45 EDT

Researchers have created a new tool to detect flaws in lithium-ion batteries as they are being manufactured, a step toward reducing defects and inconsistencies in the thickness of electrodes that affect battery life and reliability.

Charging electric vehicles cheaper and faster

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Researchers have developed a unique integrated motor drive and battery charger for electric vehicles. Compared to today's electric vehicle chargers, they have managed to shorten the charging time from eight to two hours, and to reduce the cost by around $2,000.

Success in observation of swelling of single-particle of silicon electrode for lithium ion batteries during charging reaction

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:49:49 EDT

Scientists have measured the volumetric expansion of single particles of silicon accompanying the charging reaction. This finding demonstrated the importance of electrode design from the viewpoint of volumetric energy density.

Racing car with electric drive

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Drive technology has an electric future – of this research scientists are in no doubt. Scientists have developed an electric racing car with a novel solution for battery management and electronic sensor systems.

New battery design could help solar and wind power the grid

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:06:06 EDT

Researchers have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that could enable solar and wind energy to become major suppliers to the electrical grid.

Battery and Memory Device in One

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:10:10 EDT

Conventional data memory works on the basis of electrons that are moved around and stored. However, even by atomic standards, electrons are extremely small. It is very difficult to control them, for example by means of relatively thick insulator walls, so that information will not be lost over time. This does not only limit storage density, it also costs a great deal of energy. For this reason, researchers are working feverishly all over the world on nanoelectronic components that make use of ions, i.e. charged atoms, for storing data. Ions are some thousands of times heavier that electrons and are therefore much easier to 'hold down'. In this way, the individual storage elements can almost be reduced to atomic dimensions, which enormously improves the storage density.

Battery low? Give your mobile some water

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:48:48 EDT

A power source for your mobile phone can now be as close as the nearest tap, stream, or even a puddle, with the world’s first water-activated charging device.

Small in size, big on power: New microbatteries the most powerful yet

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:19:19 EDT

The most powerful batteries on the planet are only a few millimeters in size, yet they pack such a punch that a driver could use a cellphone powered by these batteries to jump-start a dead car battery -- and then recharge the phone in the blink of an eye. The new microbatteries out-power even the best supercapacitors and could drive new applications in radio communications and compact electronics.

Building a better capacitor with custom nanorods

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:17:17 EDT

A new process for growing forests of manganese dioxide nanorods may lead to the next generation of high-performance capacitors.

Engineers craft new material for high-performing 'supercapacitors'

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Taking a significant step toward improving the power delivery of systems ranging from urban electrical grids to regenerative braking in hybrid vehicles, researchers have synthesized a material that shows high capability for both the rapid storage and release of energy.

Better batteries from waste sulfur

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:34:34 EDT

A new chemical process can transform waste sulfur into a lightweight plastic that may improve batteries for electric cars, reports a new study. Scientists have successfully used the new plastic to make lithium-sulfur batteries. The team's discovery could provide a new use for the sulfur left over when oil and natural gas are refined into cleaner-burning fuels. Other potential applications for the new plastic include optical uses.

Memory effect now also found in lithium-ion batteries

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:32:32 EDT

Due to their high energy density, lithium-ion batteries are used in many commercial electronic appliances. They are also believed to exhibit no memory effect. That’s how experts call a deviation in the voltage of the battery that can limit the usability of the stored energy as well as the ability to determine the state of charge of the battery reliably. Scientists have now however discovered a memory effect in a lithium-ion battery. This finding is particularly relevant for the use of lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicle market.

Understanding the life of lithium ion batteries in electric vehicles

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:39:39 EDT

Scientists have now answered a question that worries millions of owners and potential owners of electric and hybrid vehicles using lithium-ion batteries: How long before the battery pack dies, leaving a sticker-shock bill for a fresh pack or a car ready for the junk heap? Their answer may surprise skeptics.

Electronic implants: New fast transcutaneous non-invasive battery recharger and energy feeder

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Scientists have developed a non-invasive battery recharger system for electronic implants that allows a longer life for the internal implantable devices in the human body such as pacemakers, defibrillators and electric hearts.

Seemingly small research funding cuts could hinder progress in nanotechnology

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

Cuts in federal funding of nanotechnology research threaten to slow progress toward some of the field’s greatest promises, including commercialization of sustainable new energy sources that do not contribute to global warming, an international authority in the field cautioned here today.

Tortuous paths hamper ion transport

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:32:32 EDT

Researchers have used X-ray tomography to screen lithium ion battery electrodes and can reconstruct the microstructure in high resolution. This helps to understand the discharging and charging process better and develop optimized electrodes.

Tin nanocrystals for the battery of the future

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:32:32 EDT

More powerful batteries could help electric cars achieve a considerably larger range and thus a breakthrough on the market. A new nanomaterial for lithium ion batteries could come into play here.

Solar village to house microgrid project

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:45:45 EDT

Four solar homes built by students will soon become home to an experimental microgrid to manage and store renewable energy.

A longer life for lithium-sulfur batteries

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Electric cars have still got it tough in the German marketplace. They are too expensive and their range is too short. This is an opportune time for a breakthrough in efficient and low-cost lithium-sulfur batteries.

Super batteries? Hybrid ribbons a gift for powerful batteries

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:56:56 EDT

Ribbons of vanadium oxide and graphene become ultrafast charging and discharging electrodes for lithium-ion batteries in new research. The ribbons are thousands of times thinner than a sheet of paper, yet have potential that far outweighs current materials for their ability to charge and discharge very quickly.

Multi-purpose wonder can generate hydrogen, produce clean water and even provide energy

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

A new wonder material can generate hydrogen, produce clean water and even provide energy. Science fiction? Hardly, and there's more -- It can also desalinate water, be used as flexible water filtration membranes, help recover energy from desalination waste brine, be made into flexible solar cells and can also double the lifespan of lithium ion batteries. With its superior bacteria-killing capabilities, it can also be used to develop a new type of antibacterial bandage.

Petroleum use, greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles could drop 80 percent by 2050: U.S. report

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:16:16 EDT

A new report finds that by the year 2050, the United States may be able to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent for light-duty vehicles -- cars and small trucks -- via a combination of more efficient vehicles; the use of alternative fuels like biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.

Breakthrough in electricity storage: New large and powerful redox flow battery

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:50:50 EDT

More and more electricity is being generated from intermittent sources of power, such as solar and wind energy. Powerful electric energy storage devices are necessary to level out corresponding irregularities in the power supply. Scientists have recently made an important breakthrough with the development of a redox flow battery that reaches stack power up to 25 kW, with a cell size of 0.5 square meters. This is eight times larger than the previous A4-sized systems.

Carbon footprint of grid-scale battery technologies calculated

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:13:13 EST

Solar and wind power pose a challenge for the U.S. electrical grid, which lacks the capacity to store surplus clean electricity and deliver it on demand. Researchers are developing grid-scale storage batteries, but the fossil fuel required to build these technologies could negate some of the environmental benefits of new solar and wind farms, say scientists.

Biobatteries catch breath

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:23:23 EST

An air-breathing bio-battery has been constructed by researchers from Poland. The core element providing the new power source with relatively high voltage and long lifetime is a carefully designed cathode taking up oxygen from air and composed of an enzyme, carbon nanotubes and silicate.

Analytical theory may bring improvements to lithium-ion batteries

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:14:14 EST

Researchers have shown theoretically how to control or eliminate the formation of "dendrites" that cause lithium-ion batteries to fail, an advance that if realized would improve safety and might enable the batteries to be charged within a matter of minutes instead of hours.

Clever battery completes stretchable electronics package: Can stretch, twist and bend -- and return to normal shape

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:38:38 EST

Researchers have demonstrated a stretchable lithium-ion battery -- a flexible device capable of powering their innovative stretchable electronics. The battery can stretch up to 300 percent of its original size and still function -- even when stretched, folded, twisted and mounted on a human elbow. The battery enables true integration of electronics and power into a small, stretchable package that is wirelessly rechargeable.

Wireless power transfer technology for high capacity transit

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:01:01 EST

Scientists have developed a wireless power transfer technology that can be applied to high capacity transportation systems such as railways, harbor freight, and airport transportation and logistics. The technology supplies 60 kHz and 180 kW of power remotely to transport vehicles at a stable, constant rate.

Cheap, strong lithium-ion battery developed

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:20:20 EST

Researchers have developed a new lithium-ion battery design that uses porous silicon nanoparticles in place of the traditional graphite anodes to provide superior performance.

Mystery surrounding the harnessing of fusion energy unlocked

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:53:53 EST

Scientists have answered the question of how the behavior of plasma -- the extremely hot gases of nuclear fusion -- can be controlled with ultra-thin lithium films on graphite walls lining thermonuclear magnetic fusion devices.

Research paves way for larger, safer lithium ion batteries

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:51:51 EST

Looking toward improved batteries for charging electric cars and storing energy from renewable but intermittent solar and wind, scientists have developed the first high-performance, nanostructured solid electrolyte for more energy-dense lithium ion batteries.

Nanoparticles digging the world's smallest tunnels

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:52:52 EST

The world’s smallest tunnels have a width of a few nanometers only. Researchers have dug such tunnels into graphite samples. This will allow structuring of the interior of materials through self-organization in the nanometer range and tailoring of nanoporous graphite for applications in medicine and battery technology.

Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:59:59 EST

In 2005, President George W. Bush and American corn farmers saw corn ethanol as a promising fossil fuel substitute that would reduce both American dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, the 2005 energy bill mandated that 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel be added to the gasoline supply in 2006. That rose to 4.7 billion gallons in 2007 and 7.5 billion in 2012. Now a new study shows solar power is not only better in terms of energy efficiency, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions -- but it is cost competitive, too.

Using snail teeth to improve solar cells and batteries

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:14:14 EST

A professor is using the teeth of a marine snail found of the coast of California to create less costly and more efficient nanoscale materials to improve solar cells and lithium-ion batteries.

Engineer making rechargeable batteries with layered nanomaterials

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:20:20 EST

A researcher is developing more efficient ways to save costs, time and energy when creating nanomaterials and lithium-ion batteries.

Mechanism of hearing is similar to car battery, researcher learns

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:57:57 EST

Biologists have shown that one of the mechanisms involved in hearing is similar to the battery in your car. And if that isn't interesting enough, the scientists advanced their knowledge of human hearing by studying a similar auditory system in fruit flies -- and by making use of the fruit fly "love song."

Researchers seek longer battery life for electric locomotive

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:36:36 EST

Norfolk Southern Railway No. 999 is the first all-electric, battery-powered locomotive in the United States. But when one of the thousand lead-acid batteries that power it dies, the locomotive shuts down. To combat this problem, researchers are developing more cost-effective ways to prolong battery life.

Chemical engineers working toward better batteries for transportation

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:35:35 EST

Chemical engineers are researching how to make better, cheaper and lighter batteries for the transportation sector.

'Easy does it' gets you further in electric vehicles

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:18:18 EST

Drivers of gas and diesel cars are usually aware that driving at high speed, harsh acceleration and hard braking all contribute to lowering their fuel economy. Scientists can readily explain in terms of the thermodynamics of the internal combustion engine why driving such a car more smoothly and at gentler speeds will increase significantly the distance that might be traveled on a single tank of fuel. But, what about electric vehicles (EVs)?

Artificial intelligence helps sort used batteries

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:40:40 EST

A new type of machine sorts used batteries by means of artificial intelligence (AI). One machine is now being used in the UK, sorting one-third of the country’s recycled batteries.

New factor that could limit life of hybrid and electric car batteries revealed

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:48:48 EST

A new study of the batteries commonly used in hybrid and electric-only cars has revealed an unexpected factor that could limit the performance of batteries currently on the road.

Ancient red dye powers new 'green' battery: Chemists use plant extract in eco-friendly, sustainable lithium-ion battery

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:52:52 EST

Rose madder -- a natural plant dye once prized throughout the Old World to make fiery red textiles -- has found a second life as the basis for a new "green" battery. Chemists have developed a non-toxic and sustainable lithium-ion battery powered by purpurin, a dye extracted from the roots of the madder plant.

Flexible silicon solar-cell fabrics may soon become possible

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:47:47 EST

For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that is capable of being scaled up to many meters in length. The research opens the door to the possibility of weaving together solar-cell silicon wires to create flexible, curved, or twisted solar fabrics.

Superconductors that work by themselves: Scientists discover new possibilities in cryoelectronics

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:38:38 EST

Scientists have experimentally demonstrated a new type of superconducting element -- named the phi-Josephson junction. Implemented in cryogenic devices, this element will make superconducting electronic circuits work practically "by themselves" and improve functionality.

World's first demonstration of power transfer from wheels to power an electric car

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:26:26 EST

Electric vehicles (EV) have ten times higher energy performance than automobiles powered by gasoline-based engines. However, they are not yet popular with drivers due to the need to store large batteries onboard. Now, researchers are developing an innovative method for powering EVs that drastically reduces the number of batteries.

Greener storage for green energy

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:34:34 EST

Renewable energy solutions like wind and solar operate on nature’s timetable. When the sun blazes or when the breeze blows, power is plentiful—but not necessarily at the moments when consumers need it, like on a hot, calm summer night.

Thermogenerator from the printer

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:30:30 EST

Wireless sensor networks monitor machinery and equipment in factories, cars and power stations. They increasingly “harvest” the energy they need to transmit measurement data from the environment, thus making them self-sufficient. Researchers are presenting a printed thermogenerator, which in the future will be able to generate energy supply for sensors through temperature differences.

Production of batteries made cheaper and safer, thanks to Finnish researchers

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:35:35 EST

Researchers in Finland have developed a method for producing lithium batteries that is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than previously used methods. This new process has succeeded in replacing the harmful methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solvent, which is traditionally used in the manufacturing of electrodes, with water. Removing this harmful solvent from the production process makes the production of batteries simpler and safer for employees. Production costs of batteries can be decreased by as much as 5 percent. Some of this savings comes from the reduced cost of transporting and recycling harmful chemicals and a lower risk of exposure to employees.

Medical devices powered by the ear itself

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:17:17 EST

For the first time, researchers power an implantable electronic device using an electrical potential -- a natural battery -- deep in the inner ear.

New silicon-based batteries outperform current batteries: 'Crushed' porous silicon anodes show dramatic increase in charge-discharge cycles

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:31:31 EDT

Rice researchers crush their custom silicon sponges to make battery anodes that outperform those in current batteries and should easily scale up for manufacturing.

Materials scientists make additive-free battery electrodes with nanoparticles

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:31:31 EDT

Materials scientists have developed a simple, robust way to fabricate carbon-free and polymer-free, lightweight colloidal films for lithium-ion battery electrodes, which could greatly improve battery performance.

Salt power: Watt's next in rechargeable batteries?

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:19:19 EDT

Sodium could be an effective, inexpensive and virtually inexhaustible substitute for lithium, but it has a drawback that researchers hope to address.

Organic solar cells with high electric potential for portable electronics

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:47:47 EDT

A new breakthrough in solar technology means portable electronic devices such as e-book readers could soon be re-charged on the move in low light levels and partial shading. Scientists have created an organic solar cell that generates a sufficiently high voltage to recharge a lithium-ion battery directly, without the need to connect multiple individual cells in series. Modules of these high voltage cells perform well in different light conditions including partial shade making them well matched to consumer electronic devices such as e-book readers, cameras and some mobile phones.

Researchers create 'nanoflowers' for energy storage, solar cells

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:40:40 EDT

Researchers have created flower-like structures out of germanium sulfide (GeS) -- a semiconductor material -- that have extremely thin petals with an enormous surface area. The GeS flower holds promise for next-generation energy storage devices and solar cells.

New way to determine amount of charge remaining in battery

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:21:21 EDT

Researchers have developed a new technique that allows users to better determine the amount of charge remaining in a battery in real time. That's good news for electric vehicle drivers, since it gives them a better idea of when their car may run out of juice.

Nickelblock: An element's love-hate relationship with battery electrodes

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:25:25 EDT

Battery materials on the nano-scale reveal how nickel forms a physical barrier that impedes the shuttling of lithium ions in the electrode, reducing how fast the materials charge and discharge. The research also suggests a way to improve the materials.