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.

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.

The Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of nanotechnology. A research team led by Prof. Mingtai Wang has developed a revolutionary method for creating titanium dioxide nanorod arrays (TiO2-NA) with precise control over rod spacing, without affecting individual rod size. This breakthrough has significant implications for high-performance solar cells and other applications.

The researchers used a carefully tuned process to grow TiO2 nanorods, which excel at harvesting light and conducting charge. Traditional methods, however, often result in linked parameters – adjusting one aspect affects others, potentially compromising device efficiency. The team’s innovative approach separates rod density from diameter and length, allowing for precise control over the former.

Their strategy involves extending the hydrolysis stage of a precursor film to create longer “gel chains,” which assemble into smaller anatase nanoparticles. These nanoparticles then convert in situ into rutile ones, serving as seeds for nanorod growth. By controlling this process, the team successfully produced TiO2-NA films with constant rod diameter and height, despite varying rod density.

When integrated into low-temperature-processed CuInS2 solar cells, these films achieved remarkable results – power conversion efficiencies exceeding 10%, peaking at 10.44%. To explain why spacing matters so profoundly, the researchers introduced a Volume-Surface-Density model, illustrating how rod density influences light trapping, charge separation, and carrier collection.

This research marks a significant step forward in regulating nanostructures and optimizing device performance. By establishing a complete system linking process regulation, microstructure evolution, and device optimization, this breakthrough has far-reaching implications for clean energy and optoelectronics applications.