Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

Researchers develop Calcium Rechargeable Battery with Long Cycle Life

Schematic of a prototype Ca metal battery. The battery comprises a Ca2+ storing positive electrode containing the CuS cathode and Ca metal anode with a hydrogen cluster electrolyte. Cycling performance of the Ca-CuS battery. Credit: Kazuaki Kisu

A research group has developed a prototype calcium (Ca) metal rechargeable battery capable of 500 cycles of repeated charge-discharge—the benchmark for practical use.

The breakthrough was reported in the journal Advanced Science on May 19, 2023.

With the use of electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems on the rise, the need to explore alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has never been greater. One such replacement is Ca metal batteries...

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Nifty Nanoparticles help ‘Peel back the Curtain’ into the world of Super Small Things

Physicists at The Australian National University (ANU) are using nanoparticles to develop new sources of light that will allow us to “peel back the curtain” into the world of extremely small objects – thousands of times smaller than a human hair – with major gains for medical and other technologies.

The findings, published in Science Advances, could have major implications for medical science by offering an affordable and effective solution to analyse tiny objects that are too small for microscopes to see, let alone the human eye. The work could also be beneficial for the semiconductor industry and improving quality control of the fabrication of computer chips.

The ANU technology uses carefully engineered nanoparticles to increase the frequency of light that cameras and ...

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New Materials will Yield Stronger, Faster-Charging Batteries

New materials will yield stronger, faster-charging batteries
Graphical abstract. Credit: Joule (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2023.03.011

Researchers at MIT say they have created a new material that will pave the way to faster charging batteries.

Increasing demand for improved electrochemical energy storage devices—that is, batteries—stems from a broad spectrum of technology. That includes electric vehicles, municipal power backup systems that require uninterrupted power during temporary outages, and various other applications in the agricultural, biomedical and defense sectors.

More efficient batteries will contribute to increasing demands for a greener, sustainable future.

But state-of-the-art battery technology suffer from a few drawbacks. One is the length of time required to recharge batteries...

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New Passive Device continuously Generates Electricity during the Day or Night

New passive device continuously generates electricity during the day or night
The new self-powered thermoelectric generator device uses an ultra-broadband solar absorber (UBSA) to capture sunlight, which heats the generator. Simultaneously, another component called a planar radiative cooling emitter (RCE) cools part of the device by releasing heat. Credit: Haoyuan Cai, Jimei University

Researchers have developed a new thermoelectric generator (TEG) that can continuously generate electricity using heat from the sun and a radiative element that releases heat into the air. Because it works during the day or night and in cloudy conditions, the new self-powered TEG could provide a reliable power source for small electronic devices such as outdoor sensors.

“Traditional power sources like batteries are limited in capacity and require regular replacement or rechargin...

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