Triple-Layer Solid Polymer Electrolyte: A Breakthrough in Lithium Metal Battery Safety and Durability

A research team from the Division of Energy & Environmental Technology at DGIST, led by Principal Researcher Kim Jae-hyun, has developed an innovative lithium metal battery featuring a “triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte.” This advancement promises significant improvements in both fire safety and battery lifespan, positioning it as a potential game-changer for applications in electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems.

Traditional solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) batteries have faced persistent challenges, particularly in ensuring optimal contact between the battery’s electrodes. This is critical in preventing the formation of “dendrites”—tree-like structures of lithium that form during repeated charging and discharging cycles. These dendrites can cause internal short circuits, potentially leading to fires or even explosions, posing a significant safety hazard.

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Revolutionary “Fungal Battery” Offers Sustainable Power Solution for Low-Energy Devices

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking biodegradable battery that harnesses the power of living organisms, creating an innovative energy solution that could transform how we approach low-power electronics and environmental monitoring.

The “Fungal Battery” represents a remarkable fusion of biological and technological innovation, utilizing two distinct microorganisms to generate electrical power through a unique electrochemical process. The battery’s design incorporates yeast and white wood rot fungi, each playing a critical role in energy conversion.

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Revolutionary Battery Technology Promises to Supercharge Electric Vehicle Range

In the rapidly evolving world of electric vehicles, a groundbreaking advancement in battery technology is poised to transform the automotive landscape. Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) have achieved a remarkable breakthrough that could potentially increase battery energy storage capacity tenfold, addressing one of the most significant challenges in electric vehicle development.

At the heart of this innovation lies a deep understanding of battery design, specifically the crucial role of the anode. Traditional lithium batteries have relied on graphite as the primary anode material, but silicon has long been recognized as a potentially superior alternative due to its significantly higher energy capacity.

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Envision Energy Unveils Industry-Leading Battery for Grid Storage at Shanghai Tech Expo

At a tech exhibition in Shanghai, battery manufacturer Envision Energy showcased its latest high-capacity grid-storage battery, drawing widespread attention. According to PV Magazine’s report on the Electrical Energy Storage Alliance’s Energy Storage Exhibition, Envision’s new battery boasts an impressive energy density of 541 kilowatt-hours per square meter. This advanced unit can store up to 8 megawatt-hours (MWh) of power within a standard 20-foot container, surpassing the 6 MWh capacity currently offered by leading competitors.

“We made a huge jump from our previous generation products to cut costs at the system level,” said a representative from Envision, as quoted in PV Magazine. The power pack’s high energy density is designed to store and manage intermittent renewable energy more efficiently, with a remarkable 96% “roundtrip” efficiency rate, which measures the amount of energy retained during storage and retrieval.

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Mercedes-Benz Opens Europe’s First Integrated Battery Recycling Plant for EV Sustainability

Mercedes-Benz has made a groundbreaking advancement in sustainable electric vehicle (EV) production by opening Europe’s first integrated battery recycling facility in Kuppenheim, Germany. This state-of-the-art plant, representing an investment of tens of millions of euros, is designed to process 2,500 tonnes of batteries annually, producing enough recycled materials to manufacture modules for over 50,000 new EVs. The facility employs a mechanical-hydrometallurgical process that achieves an impressive 96 percent recovery rate of valuable materials. “This innovative technology enables us to recover valuable raw materials from the battery with the highest possible degree of purity,” said Jörg Burzer, Board Member responsible for Production at Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Innovative EV Recycling Process

The facility’s recycling process begins with the mechanical separation of battery components, followed by the hydrometallurgical treatment of “black mass,” containing valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, and lithium. These metals are then refined to battery-grade quality, allowing them to be reused in new Mercedes-Benz EVs. The plant operates at up to 80°C, an energy-efficient temperature that reduces both energy consumption and waste, and it’s powered entirely by green electricity. The 6,800-square-meter roof of the facility also houses a 350-kilowatt photovoltaic system, making the plant carbon-neutral.

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The Road to Affordable EVs: Lithium-Ion Battery Prices Set to Drop by 2026

The future of electric vehicle (EV) growth hinges on making them more affordable to buy and maintain. While environmental concerns are important, most Americans are unlikely to abandon their gas-powered cars solely for climate reasons. The key to widespread EV adoption lies in reducing battery costs, and recent research from Goldman Sachs offers promising news in this regard.

According to the report, lithium-ion battery prices are expected to continue declining significantly in the coming years. By 2026, global average battery pack prices could fall to $82 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)—a sharp drop from the 2023 average of $149/kWh. This 26% price reduction from current levels is part of a broader trend, as battery prices were as high as $780/kWh just a decade ago, in 2013.

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Asahi Kasei Unveils Flame-Retardant Fabric to Boost EV Battery Safety

Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei has introduced a groundbreaking flame-retardant nonwoven fabric called Lastan, designed to enhance the safety of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This innovative material offers a superior alternative to traditional thermal runaway protection materials, which are crucial for preventing battery fires and explosions.

Lastan can withstand flames up to 1,300℃, while keeping its reverse side temperature below 400℃, providing critical protection in high-heat environments. It boasts a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 50+ and has earned a UL94 5VA rating, showcasing exceptional fire resistance without compromising structural integrity.

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Predicting and Preventing Battery Overheating: New Research Tackles EV Safety Concerns

A major safety concern for electric vehicles (EVs) is managing battery temperature, as overheating can lead to hazardous situations, including fire. A University of Arizona research team, led by doctoral student Goswami, has developed a new method to predict and prevent these temperature spikes in lithium-ion batteries—the primary power source for most EVs. Supported by a $599,808 grant from the Department of Defense’s Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the team is pioneering a framework that combines multiphysics and machine learning models to detect and anticipate overheating, also known as thermal runaway.

The goal is to integrate this predictive system into electric vehicles’ battery management systems, offering drivers an additional layer of protection against battery malfunctions. “We need to move to green energy, but there are safety concerns associated with lithium-ion batteries,” said Goswami.

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MIT Develops Tiny Zinc-Air Batteries to Power Microscopic Devices

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed groundbreaking zinc (Zn)-based micro-batteries that deliver impressive energy output in volumes as small as two picoliters each. These microscopic power sources are poised to revolutionize the functionality of tiny sensors and robotic components.

Remarkably, a single 2-inch silicon wafer can produce up to 10,000 of these micro-batteries, each with the capacity to power minuscule devices. The batteries harness oxygen from their surroundings to trigger a zinc oxidation reaction, achieving an energy density between 760 and 1,070 watt-hours per liter. Despite their minuscule size—less than 100 micrometers wide and just 2 micrometers thick—these batteries pack a powerful punch.

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Pioneering Anode-Free Sodium Solid-State Batteries: A Leap Toward Sustainable Energy

Researchers at the Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion (LESC), led by Professor Y. Shirley Meng, have achieved a significant breakthrough in energy storage technology by developing the first anode-free sodium solid-state battery. This innovation, a collaboration between the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the University of California, San Diego’s Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering, marks a major step forward in creating cost-effective, fast-charging, high-capacity batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage.

Grayson Deysher, a PhD candidate at UC San Diego and the lead author of a recent paper published in Nature Energy, emphasized the novelty of this achievement. “While there have been previous advancements in sodium, solid-state, and anode-free batteries, no one has successfully combined these three concepts until now,” Deysher stated.

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Researchers Develop Soft, Stretchable ‘Jelly Batteries’ for Wearable Devices and Biomedical Implants

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed innovative soft, stretchable “jelly batteries” with potential applications in wearable devices, soft robotics, and even brain implants for drug delivery or treating conditions like epilepsy. Inspired by electric eels, these jelly-like materials feature a layered structure, similar to sticky Lego, enabling them to deliver an electric current.

The jelly batteries, reported in the journal Science Advances, are made from hydrogels: 3D networks of polymers containing over 60% water. These polymers are held together by reversible interactions that control the jelly’s mechanical properties. The ability to precisely control these properties and mimic human tissue characteristics makes hydrogels ideal for soft robotics and bioelectronics. However, achieving both conductivity and stretchability in such materials has been challenging.

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Transforming Solar Panel Waste into High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Researchers at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) have developed a groundbreaking method to recycle silicon from solar panels and repurpose it to create superior-performance lithium-ion batteries. This innovative approach is not only sustainable and cost-effective but also sets a new precedent for reusing solar panel components at the end of their life cycle.

The recent surge in solar panel installations marks a significant shift away from fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner environment. However, it also foreshadows a looming waste problem, as these panels will reach the end of their operational life in about three decades, generating a massive amount of waste. Consequently, researchers worldwide are exploring viable roles for individual solar panel components. While metals like copper and silver will likely remain in high demand, repurposing abundant silicon has been a challenge—until now.

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