Connect with us
We’re experimenting with AI-generated content to help deliver information faster and more efficiently.
While we try to keep things accurate, this content is part of an ongoing experiment and may not always be reliable.
Please double-check important details — we’re not responsible for how the information is used.

Batteries

“Breakthrough Dual-Atom Catalyst Revolutionizes Zinc-Air Battery Efficiency for Practical Applications”

A research team has unveiled a breakthrough in improving the performance of zinc-air batteries (ZABs), which are an important energy storage technology. This breakthrough involves a new catalyst that significantly boosts the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a crucial process in ZABs. The development could lead to more efficient, long-lasting batteries for practical applications.

Avatar photo

Published

on

The development of efficient zinc-air batteries has long been a challenge for researchers. A breakthrough in this area has now been achieved with the creation of a new dual-atom catalyst that significantly boosts the performance of these essential energy storage devices.

At the core of zinc-air batteries is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which often suffers from slow kinetics, limiting their overall efficiency. To overcome this hurdle, researchers have turned to platinum-based catalysts, but they are expensive and scarce, making them impractical for widespread use. The hunt has been on for alternatives that can provide high performance without the hefty price tag.

Enter the dual-atom catalyst, a novel material consisting of two metal atoms paired together to enhance catalytic activity. In this groundbreaking study, researchers have successfully developed such a catalyst made from iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co), combined with nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) in a porous structure. This innovative design has yielded impressive results.

The team’s approach was guided by computational modeling that predicted the effects of pH on the reaction, allowing them to create an optimal catalyst configuration for maximum efficiency. Using hard templates and CO2 activation processes, they synthesized the Fe1Co1-N-C catalyst, which displayed exceptional oxygen reduction activity compared to traditional platinum-based catalysts.

In practical terms, this means zinc-air batteries using the new dual-atom catalyst can achieve high open-circuit voltages of 1.51 volts and exhibit excellent energy density of 1079 watt-hours per kilogram of zinc (Wh kgZn-1). What’s more, these batteries demonstrated superior rate capability, performing well even under high current densities ranging from 2 to 600 milliamps per square centimeter (mA cm-2).

Furthermore, the researchers observed an ultra-long lifespan for their battery design, lasting over 3600 hours and completing 7200 cycles under moderate conditions. This remarkable performance far surpasses most other batteries on the market.

Assistant Professor Di Zhang of Tohoku University’s Advanced Institute of Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) exclaimed, “This work provides an efficient and rational strategy for designing and synthesizing catalysts that can be used in real-world applications.” Looking ahead, Zhang and his team plan to continue their research by developing even more advanced methods to create dual-atom catalysts with precise atomic pairings. They also intend to enhance techniques for identifying the specific active sites in the catalysts.

The research was supported by the Tohoku University Support Program, and key findings from this study are available on the Digital Catalysis Platform, a resource developed by the Hao Li Lab to assist in the discovery and development of new catalysts.

Batteries

Unlocking Battery Secrets at the Atomic Scale

Scientists have cracked open a mysterious layer inside batteries, using cutting-edge 3D atomic force microscopy to capture the dynamic molecular structures at their solid-liquid interfaces. These once-invisible electrical double layers (EDLs) twist, break, and reform in response to surface irregularities phenomena never seen before in real-world battery systems. The findings don t just refine our understanding of how batteries work at the microscopic level they could fundamentally change how we build and design next-generation energy storage.

Avatar photo

Published

on

By

The mysteries hidden within your battery are finally being unraveled by scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Led by Professor Yingjie Zhang, a team has completed an investigation into the nonuniformity of liquid electrolytes at solid-liquid interfaces in electrochemical cells – a long-overlooked aspect that holds significant technological implications.

The researchers used 3D atomic force microscopy to study the molecular structure of electrical double layers (EDLs), which self-organize into nanometer-thick layers at the interface between the liquid electrolyte and solid conductor. Their findings revealed three primary responses in EDLs: bending, breaking, and reconnecting – patterns that are quite universal and mainly driven by the finite size of liquid molecules.

The study provides a groundbreaking understanding of electrochemical cells and has significant implications for battery technology. By shedding light on the nonuniformity of liquid electrolytes at solid-liquid interfaces, researchers can now develop new chapters in electrochemistry textbooks and inform technological applications.

“We have resolved the EDLs in realistic, heterogeneous electrochemical systems, which is a holy grain in electrochemistry,” said Professor Zhang. “Besides the practical implications in technology, we are starting to develop new chapters in electrochemistry textbooks.”

The research team also includes graduate student Qian Ai as the lead author and other contributors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Support was provided by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

This study marks a significant step forward in understanding the atomic-scale secrets within batteries, paving the way for improved battery technology and innovative applications.

Continue Reading

Automotive and Transportation

“Revolutionizing Battery Life: Scientists Uncover Secret to Making Aqueous Batteries Last 10x Longer”

A team at KAUST has revealed that the short lifespan of aqueous batteries is primarily due to “free water” molecules triggering harmful chemical reactions at the anode. By adding affordable sulfate salts like zinc sulfate, they significantly reduced this issue—boosting battery life over tenfold. The sulfate acts as a “water glue,” stabilizing the water structure and halting the energy-wasting reactions. Not only is this solution simple and cost-effective, but early results suggest it may be a universal fix for various types of metal-anode aqueous batteries.

Avatar photo

Published

on

By

The world is on the cusp of a revolution in sustainable energy storage, thanks to groundbreaking research from scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. In a study published in Science Advances, researchers have uncovered the key to making aqueous rechargeable batteries last significantly longer – up to 10 times more than their current lifespan.

One major factor that determines a battery’s lifespan is its anode. Chemical reactions at the anode generate and store energy, but these same reactions also degrade the anode over time, compromising the battery’s overall performance. The new study reveals how free water molecules contribute to these parasitic reactions, causing unwanted chemical interactions that consume energy and accelerate wear on the anode.

The KAUST team has found that adding zinc sulfate – a common, affordable salt – can significantly mitigate this issue by stabilizing the bonds of free water molecules. This “water glue” effect reduces the number of parasitic reactions, allowing aqueous batteries to last much longer than previously thought possible.

“Our findings highlight the importance of understanding water structure in battery chemistry,” said KAUST Professor Husam Alshareef, principal investigator on the study. “We’re excited about the potential implications for sustainable energy storage.”

The research suggests that sulfate salts can have a universal effect on stabilizing free water molecules and extending the lifespan of all aqueous batteries – not just those using zinc anodes. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for large-scale energy storage, which is gaining significant global attention as a safer and more sustainable solution.

Aqueous batteries are poised to exceed a market size of $10 billion by 2030, thanks in part to their unique advantages over lithium-ion batteries. Unlike their competitors, aqueous batteries offer a more sustainable option for integrating renewable energy sources like solar power into electrical grids, making them an attractive choice for widespread adoption.

KAUST researchers Yunpei Zhu and Omar Mohammed also contributed to the study, along with Professors Omar Bakr, Xixiang Zhang, and Mani Sarathy.

Continue Reading

Artificial Intelligence

The Real-Life Kryptonite Found in Serbia – A Game-Changer for Earth’s Energy Transition

Deep in Serbia’s Jadar Valley, scientists discovered a mineral with an uncanny resemblance to Superman’s Kryptonite both in composition and name. Dubbed jadarite, this dull white crystal lacks the glowing green menace of its comic book counterpart but packs a punch in the real world. Rich in lithium and boron, jadarite could help supercharge the global transition to green energy.

Avatar photo

Published

on

By

The discovery of jadarite, a rare and fascinating mineral, has been hailed as “Earth’s kryptonite twin” due to its similarities to the fictional substance from the comic books. Found in the Jadar Valley of Serbia by exploration geologists from Rio Tinto in 2004, this sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide mineral has immense potential for Earth’s energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Initially, jadarite didn’t match any known mineral at the time and was identified after analysis by the Natural History Museum in London and the National Research Council of Canada. It was officially recognized as a new mineral in 2006. While it shares some similarities with kryptonite, including its chemical formula LiNaSiB₃O₇(OH), jadarite is a much less supernatural dull white mineral that fluoresces pinkish-orange under UV light.

According to Michael Page, a scientist with Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), “the real jadarite has great potential as an important source of lithium and boron.” In fact, the Jadar deposit where it was first discovered is considered one of the largest lithium deposits in the world, making it a potential game-changer for the global green energy transition.

The work that ANSTO does focuses on how critical minerals like jadarite can be utilized to support Australian industry in a commercial capacity. They have produced battery-grade lithium chemicals from various mineral deposits, including spodumene, lepidolite, and even jadarite, ensuring that Australian miners receive the support they need to meet the challenges of the energy transition.

As the world continues to transition towards renewable energy sources, jadarite’s potential as a key component in this process cannot be overstated. Its discovery is a testament to human ingenuity and our ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems.

Continue Reading

Trending