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What‘s new in batteries? Discover the most innovative ideas

What‘s new in batteries? Discover the most innovative ideas

July 30, 2023

🔍 Researchers are looking for ways to improve the efficiency, sustainability and lifespans of battery technologies.
🔬 Some approaches use machine learning, nanotechnology and even seaweed to improve batteries.
♲ One of the main goals is to find replacements for lithium-ion batteries.

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The best and most innovative ideas for new batteries

In today's tech-driven age, batteries are everywhere in our daily lives, powering everything from our phones to our cars. But, despite our reliance on them, current battery technologies, especially lithium-ion batteries, often leave users wanting more in terms of longevity and sustainability.

Taking a step towards this goal, an international team of scientists recently delved deep into the properties of compounds named argyrodites that have potential to be used as electrolytes in solid-state batteries and in thermoelectric energy converters.

Researchers studied the molecular behaviors of argyrodites using advanced tools like x-ray and neutron imaging, coupled with quantum mechanical simulations and machine learning.

Their results — recently published in the journal Nature — could open the way to faster-charging electric vehicles and better household battery walls.

Progress is also reported in Australia, where researchers at RMIT University are dabbling with a nanomaterial named MXene, aspiring to produce recyclable cell phone batteries that last three times longer than the current ones.

These batteries, estimated to have up to a nine-year life span, utilize high-frequency sound waves to tackle the challenge of rust build-up, a common issue with MXene.

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Seaweed, sustainability, and smarter systems

The quest for better batteries has also taken a turn towards the oceans, where researchers from Scotland see potential in the vast expanses of seaweed.

By harnessing a material from brown seaweed known as alginates, they aim to replace a critical ingredient in batteries and extend their usable lifespan.

The vision is to integrate this material into silicon batteries and meet the challenge of silicon's tendency to expand and contract during charging cycles. With a prototype the size of a watch battery already in place, the team have set their sights on batteries large enough to power electric vehicles and more.

Beyond the exciting prospects of seaweed and silicon, there’s an increasing emphasis on sustainability in the battery domain.

UK-based AMTE Power is exploring sodium as a promising alternative to lithium. Sodium is abundant and requires minimal energy for extraction, so this could be a game-changer. Moreover, these sodium batteries are free of heavy metals, making them easier to recycle.

Also joining the sustainability race, the French company otonohm introduces software solutions for efficient battery management, and hope to deliver remarkable boosts in efficiency, lifespan, and overall battery reliability.

There's a lot going on in the world of battery development, and we've only covered the basics here. To learn more, click below for the full article and a better understanding of what the future might hold.

“We need to find more sustainable production methods and ways to use naturally occurring materials as part of battery manufacturing.”

Professor Duncan Gregory, chair of inorganic materials at the University of Glasgow

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