New technique links lithium distribution in the brain to depression

A new technique is allowing researchers to measure endogenous lithium concentrations in the human brain for the very first time. To test the technique researchers compared lithium levels in post-mortem brain tissue between a suicidal subject and a pair… Continue reading New technique links lithium distribution in the brain to depression

“Drop in” electrolyte avoids cracking in high-capacity lithium battery

When it comes to alternative battery architectures, designs that replace the conventional graphite material in one of the electrodes with high-density lithium metal are seen as hugely promising. An MIT team has developed a new electrolyte solution that… Continue reading “Drop in” electrolyte avoids cracking in high-capacity lithium battery

New polymer prevents cracks appearing in long-lasting lithium batteries

By swapping out conventional materials for experimental ones scientists continue to make exciting advances in the performance of lithium batteries, and a team in Japan has just published research around a particularly promising one. The team’s new desi… Continue reading New polymer prevents cracks appearing in long-lasting lithium batteries

Lead-based anode for lithium batteries doubles energy storage capacity

When it comes to expanding the capabilities of today’s lithium-ion batteries, all kinds of alternative materials are on the table, from salt, to silicon, to microwaved plastics. Owing to its abundance, low cost and familiarity in battery systems, lead … Continue reading Lead-based anode for lithium batteries doubles energy storage capacity

Tests show why QuantumScape solid-state battery has serious backing

California’s QuantumScape has announced stunning performance figures for what may be the first commercially viable solid-state lithium-metal battery. It’s claimed to add as much as 80 percent to the range of an electric car, and charge from 0-80 percen… Continue reading Tests show why QuantumScape solid-state battery has serious backing

Battery recycling breakthrough bolsters case against heavy metals

The majority of today’s lithium batteries use a rare and expensive metal called cobalt as part of the cathode component, but mining this material comes at a great cost to the environment. One of the greener alternatives is known as lithium ion phosphat… Continue reading Battery recycling breakthrough bolsters case against heavy metals

Skeleton’s high-power Superbattery is more interesting than we thought

We got it wrong, folks. Working from a scant press release we’d now view as borderline misleading, we looked at the Superbattery from Estonia’s Skeleton Technologies and assumed the company was talking about a hybrid power system combining lithium batt… Continue reading Skeleton’s high-power Superbattery is more interesting than we thought

“World’s fastest electrodes” triple the density of lithium batteries

French company Nawa technologies says it’s already in production on a new electrode design that can radically boost the performance of existing and future battery chemistries, delivering up to 3x the energy density, 10x the power, vastly faster chargin… Continue reading “World’s fastest electrodes” triple the density of lithium batteries

Lithium-metal battery builds its own protective layer as it decays

Described as a “holy grail” by some and the “dream material” by others, batteries that used pure lithium metal as their anode component could open entirely new possibilities in energy storage, and there are no shortage of promising solutions on the tab… Continue reading Lithium-metal battery builds its own protective layer as it decays

Orange peels used to extract valuable metals from spent batteries

Just because a lithium-ion battery no longer holds a charge doesn’t mean it no longer holds any value. It still contains useful metals, which can now be reclaimed via a more eco-friendly technique – the key ingredient is orange peel waste.Continue Read… Continue reading Orange peels used to extract valuable metals from spent batteries