In the race to meet the growing global demand for lithium — a critical component in batteries for electric vehicles — a team of researchers from Rice University’s Elimelech lab has developed a breakthrough lithium extraction method that could reshape the industry.

A new quasi-solid-state lithium-ion battery developed by Japanese researchers offers enhanced safety, durability, and energy density. This technology could transform electric vehicles and devices, supporting the global push toward carbon neutrality.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power everything from electric vehicles to wearable devices. But new research from Case Western Reserve University suggests that a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative may lie in zinc-based batteries.

The biogenic polyamine spermidine has received a lot of attention since it was scientifically shown to slow down the aging process when taken in adequate quantities. Determining the spermidine levels in foodstuffs requires the right analysis strategy given that many have a highly complex matrix. Scientists at the Westphalian University in Recklinghausen, Germany have developed an efficient, fully automated method based on HPLC-TOF-MS to determine spermidine in the “superfood” Apilarnil.

A new electrolyte design for lithium metal batteries could significantly boost the range of electric vehicles. Researchers at ETH Zurich have radically reduced the amount of environmentally harmful fluorine required to stabilise these batteries.

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science and Denso Corporation have discovered a groundbreaking pyrochlore-type oxyfluoride solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. This new material promises to revolutionize the industry with its non-flammable nature, high energy density, and exceptional ionic conductivity, stable in air and efficient across a wide temperature range.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a novel process for mass-producing high-performance all-solid-state sodium batteries. The team's innovation uses sodium polysulfides to create solid sulfide electrolytes with unprecedented sodium ion conductivity — ten times higher than current standards.

Estuaries, where rivers meet the sea, not only provide scenic spots but also present unique opportunities for generating renewable energy through osmotic power. Researchers have developed a new semipermeable membrane that leverages the salt gradients in these waters to produce electricity.

In a significant breakthrough, the University of Liverpool's research team has identified a novel solid material capable of fast lithium ion conduction, potentially revolutionizing the field of rechargeable batteries. Detailed in the Science journal, this discovery introduces a solid-state lithium electrolyte made from abundant, non-toxic elements, offering a viable alternative to the liquid electrolytes used in today's lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers have now developed diamond quantum sensors which can be used to improve resolution in magnetic imaging. With this innovation, microscale nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy also becomes possible.