University of California

Battery could find use in mobile applications

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have demonstrated in the laboratory a lithium-sulfur (Li/S) battery that has more than twice the specific energy of lithium-ion batteries, and that lasts for more than 1,500 cycles of charge-discharge with minimal decay of the battery's capacity. This is longest cycle life reported so far for any lithium-sulfur battery.

Microscopy system delivers real-time view of battery electrochemistry

Using a new microscopy method, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory can image and measure electrochemical processes in batteries in real time and at nanoscale resolution.

Researchers build nonflammable lithium ion battery

Developing a new generation lithium-ion battery that doesn't spontaneously combust at high temperatures.

Researchers build nonflammable lithium ion battery

Researchers have identified a surprising replacement for the only inherently flammable component of today's lithium-ion batteries: the electrolyte.

ASU engineers to help develop next generation of power electronics

Arizona State University electrical engineers Srabanti Chowdhury and Raja Ayyanar will lead research for the university's role in a new national consortium formed to develop the next generation of power electronics for electric vehicles and electronic devices.

EV Battery and Supercapacitor

Lessons from PE USA Supercapacitor Conference and Visits End 2013

Toyota launches fuel cell car in the US

The supercapacitor industry closed last year (2013) with a continued double-digit growth. According to Maxwell Technologies' executives, China has been the main source of growth. New announcements confirm what IDTechEx has stated in recent years: the supercapacitor and the battery industry are the same.

Engineers create light-activated 'curtains'

Forget remote-controlled curtains. A new development by researchers could lead to curtains and other materials that move in response to light, no batteries needed.

Highly sensitive tactile sensors for robotics and other applications

Researchers have created tactile sensors from composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles similar to the highly sensitive whiskers of cats and rats.

Scientists cook up new electronic material

Scientists grew sheets of an exotic material in a single atomic layer and measured its electronic structure for the first time.

Quantum waves at the heart of organic solar cells

Researchers have been able to tune 'coherence' in organic nanostructures due to the surprise discovery of wavelike electrons in organic materials, revealing the key to generating "long-lived charges" in organic solar cells - material that could revolutionise solar energy.

New spectroscopic technique could accelerate push for better batteries

A new technique developed at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source could help scientists better understand and improve the materials required for high-performance lithium-ion batteries that power EVs and other applications.

Solar electricity generated with photosynthetic proteins

Researchers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum have developed a bio-based solar cell.

Roots of the lithium battery problem

The lithium-ion batteries that power our laptops, smartphones and electric vehicles could have significantly higher energy density if their graphite anodes were to be replaced by lithium metal anodes.

Potential use of graphene in solar cells, thermoelectric devices

Researchers have been very interested in graphene, graphene oxide, and other two-dimensional materials for possible use in solar cells, thermoelectric devices, and water filtration, among a number of other applications.

Quantum waves at the heart of organic solar cells

Researchers have been able to tune 'coherence' in organic nanostructures due to the surprise discovery of wavelike electrons in organic materials, revealing the key to generating "long-lived charges" in organic solar cells - material that could revolutionise solar energy.

Findings at Supercapacitors USA 2013

This third edition of IDTechEx's Supercapacitors event was held in Santa Clara, California on 20-21 November.

New spectroscopic technique could accelerate push for better batteries

A new technique could help scientists better understand and improve the materials required for high-performance lithium-ion batteries that power EVs and other applications.

Exotic drops could lead to all-liquid battery

Through the combination of water, oil and nanoparticle surfactants plus an external field, researchers are able to stabilize water drops into non-equilibrium shapes that could find valuable uses as therapeutic delivery systems, biosensors, microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices, or possibly as the basis for an all-liquid electrical battery.

Longest cycle life reported so far for any lithium-sulfur battery.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have demonstrated in the laboratory a lithium-sulfur (Li/S) battery that has more than twice the specific energy of lithium-ion batteries and that lasts for more than 1,500 cycles of charge-discharge with minimal decay of the battery's capacity. This is longest cycle life reported so far for any lithium-sulfur battery.