Latest news with #Betadine
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Engineers develop ultra-futuristic battery that dramatically outperforms competition: 'High energy and safe'
A cadre of experts from China and Germany may have found a life-extending elixir of sorts for promising lithium-sulfur battery chemistry, according to lab results published in Nature. The international expert group from multiple institutions leveraged abundant sulfur — along with boron, lithium, phosphorus, and iodine, or lithium thioborophosphate iodide — to form a "glass-like mixture" that serves as a solid electrolyte, per Tech Xplore. "The latter proved to be the key; it helped speed the movement of electrons through the redox reactions, which led to faster reaction speeds," the publication's Bob Yirka wrote. When batteries operate, ions move between two electrodes through the electrolyte, which is often a liquid. Solid versions, considered a safer alternative, are being studied in numerous labs. The study material's porous structure is good for ion movement, key to battery function. What's more, the pack held greater than 80% of its capacity after 25,000 charge-discharge cycles, per the abstract. The experts join others from labs around the world who are trying to find a superb battery that outperforms common, reliable lithium-ion tech. The goal is often to lower the size and cost of power packs, perks that would reverberate throughout industry, including with electric vehicles and other tech. Lithium-sulfur is an option garnering attention because of its lower cost and capacity potential, according to Tech Xplore and AZoNano. The latter report called sulfur-based packs "among the most promising successors of lithium-ion batteries." What's more, the Tech Xplore article suggests that the biggest hurdles — ion loss, expansion inside the pack, and degradation during cycling — are manageable. The group's prototype outperformed common lithium-ion batteries, which start to degrade after 1,000 cycles. The sulfur pack even tested well in high temperatures, all according to the publication. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Battery experimentation often leads scientists to unique materials. In Australia, a team is incorporating the common antiseptic Betadine in lithium-sulfur chemistry. Researchers in Argentina are utilizing cow hair in pack cells in their effort to create an affordable unit. Next-generation batteries are needed as we transition to a cleaner-energy future. Sustainability by Numbers estimated that at least about 30 million tons of minerals will need to be mined each year to power the switch. It's a load, but still far less than the 16.5 billion tons of dirty fuels harvested from Earth annually. By developing more common and easily accessible materials that improve battery function, scientists can speed greater adoption of EVs and grid-level storage of renewable energy. A large sodium-ion pack in China is online and capable of powering 12,000 homes, as another example of innovative material use. Using batteries to power our rides and store power for later use can reduce dependence of nonrenewables, limiting heat-trapping air pollution. Most people in the world breathe polluted air, according to the World Health Organization. Medical experts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America have linked the fumes to asthma and other health risks. Fortunately, effective batteries are already powering cleaner rides. Each EV that replaces a gas-guzzler prevents thousands of pounds of harmful exhaust each year, per government data. That's not to mention the $1,500 you can save annually in gas and maintenance costs. Further, tax incentives of up to $7,500 on certain models remain available to help you make the purchase. Tech Xplore reported that the team is continuing work to find better materials to add to the mix to reduce weight, among other improvements. "We expect that our work … will pave the way for developing advanced [batteries] that are high energy and safe," they wrote in Nature. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers overcome major obstacle in development of next-generation batteries: 'A significant achievement'
A battery design that can store eight times the power per pound of common lithium-ion packs is closer to commercialization thanks to carbon nanotubes, according to a report published by EurekAlert detailing the findings from South Korea. At issue is lithium-sulfur chemistry, a promising alternative that is cost-effective, uses abundant materials, and is environmentally friendly. Those perks have researchers from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute excited about developing the tech. A hiccup is that polysulfides generated as the battery cycles cause unneeded chemical reactions that reduce the pack's lifespan. The experts said this problem is the "biggest obstacle to commercialization." Their solution — single-walled carbon nanotubes — sounds like something that could be featured in an episode of "Ancient Aliens." While not an out-of-this-world innovation, the tech is a "next-generation material with strength surpassing steel and electrical conductivity comparable to copper," according to the South Korean team. The nanotubes are combined with "oxygen functional groups," which help stabilize the electrode. Batteries have two electrodes: an anode and a cathode. Ions move between them while charging and discharging, according to a U.S. Department of Energy description. The nanomaterial reduces the sulfur loss and supports overall battery function, the researchers found, per EurekAlert. "Our technology has not only overcome the biggest challenge of the lithium–sulfur battery through the combination of [nanotubes] and oxygen functional groups, but also achieved the design and prototype development of large-area, high-capacity flexible electrodes. This is a comprehensive result," researcher Park Jun-woo said of the findings. Lithium-sulfur work is happening in labs around the world. In Australia, a team is using the popular antiseptic Betadine as part of the chemistry. A cadre of scientists in Germany is encapsulating sulfur in a microporous polymer to prevent degradation. The research represents important benchmarks on the path toward finding a game-changing power pack. While lithium-ion batteries are powerful, reliable energy storers for electric vehicles, grid storage, and other tech, improved science can lower costs and increase performance. Improved lithium-ion cells might play a role as well, as evidenced by research from China's Guangdong University of Technology that is garnering promising results. Switching to battery-powered rides is an important part of limiting heat-trapping air pollution production, linked by NASA to increased risks for a long list of severe weather events, including wildfires. Investing in an electric bike and riding to work during the week can save you hundreds of dollars annually in fuel costs and reduce planet-warming, lung-troubling exhaust. Tax breaks might even be available to help offset the costs, depending on where you live. For the South Korean team's part, Park said in the lab report that the "foundational framework" has been put in place for the application of the group's innovation, "marking a significant achievement that opens up the practical commercialization potential of next-generation lithium–sulfur batteries." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
