Science Daily May 9, 2018 Researchers at Purdue University soaked a plastic bag in sulfur-containing solvent and put it in a microwave to boost the temperature needed for transformation into low-density polyethylene promoting the sulfonation and carbonization of the plastic. It induced a higher density of pores for catching polysulfide and made it into porous sulfonated carbon (PSC) to divide the lithium and sulfur halves of a battery. When a PSC layer was utilized as an interlayer in lithium–sulfur batteries, the sulfur cathode delivered an improved capacity of 776 mAh g–1 at 0.5C and an excellent cycle retention of 79% […]
Tag Archives: Energy
Knitting electronics with yarn batteries
Science Daily March 28, 2018 Researchers in China twisted carbon nanotube fibers into a yarn, then coated one piece of yarn with zinc to form an anode, and another with magnesium oxide to form a cathode. These two pieces were then twisted like a double helix and coated with a polyacrylamide electrolyte and encased in silicone. In tests the yarn zinc-ion battery was stable, had a high charge capacity, was rechargeable and waterproof. The material could be knitted and stretched, cut into several pieces, each of which could power a watch. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, eight pieces of the cut […]
Compound could transform energy storage for large grids
Phys org February 5, 2018 A team of researchers in the US (University of Rochester, State University of New York – Buffalo) developed a method to modify polyoxometalates by replacing the compound’s methanol-derived methoxide groups with ethanol-based ethoxide ligands. They expanded the potential window during which the cluster was stable, doubling the amount of electrical energy that could be stored in the battery. The ethoxide and methoxide clusters can be generated by using methanol and ethanol. Both reagents are inexpensive, readily available and safe to use. According to the researchers the process may set a new standard in the field… […]
Scientists develop ultrafast battery with quarter-million cycle life
Phys.org January 8, 2018 Rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries are promising in high-power density but still face critical challenges of limited lifetime, rate capability, and cathodic capacity. Researchers in China have designed a “trihigh tricontinuous” (3H3C) graphene film cathode. It retains high specific capacity of around 120 mAh g−1 at ultrahigh current density of 400 A g−1 (charged in 1.1 s) with 91.7% retention after 250,000 cycles. The battery works well within a wide temperature range of −40 to 120°C with remarkable flexibility bearing 10,000 times of folding, promising for all-climate wearable energy devices. This design opens an avenue for future super-batteries… […]