Batteries

Scientists have documented a process that makes these next-gen batteries lose charge – and eventually some of their capacity for storing energy – even when a device is turned off.

The latest advance from a research collaboration with industry could dramatically accelerate the development of sturdier batteries for fast-charging electric vehicles. 

Presented by Yijin Liu. In batteries, energy is stored in tiny particles within the electrodes that individually breathe in and out and chemically evolve as the battery is charged and discharged.

A pioneer in clean energy technology at Stanford and SLAC, he is one of eight scientists and engineers honored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Adding polymers and fireproofing to a battery’s current collectors makes it lighter, safer and about 20% more efficient.

The results show how a particle’s surface and interior influence each other, an important thing to know when developing more robust batteries.

A new lithium-based electrolyte invented by Stanford University scientists could pave the way for the next generation of battery-powered electric vehicles.

New machine learning methods bring insights into how lithium ion batteries degrade, and show it’s more complicated than many thought.