Latest Updates
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Dendrite-Free Li Deposition Using Trace-Amounts of Water as an Electrolyte Additive
Residual water (H2O) present in nonaqueous electrolytes has been widely regarded as a detrimental factor for lithium (Li) batteries. However, dendrite-free Li film can be obtained with trace H2O as an electrolyte additive. Read More
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Beyond the Light Switch
On this edition of Beyond the Light Switch, aired on PBS in April 2015, the program focuses on the electrification of the American economy – in transportation, shipping, airlines, even in the U.S. military and its importance to our national security. Scientific American’s David Biello came to Argonne (34 min. into program) to discuss the research required to meet the nation’s energy storage goals. Read More
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Radical Compatibility with Nonaqueous Electrolytes and Its Impact on an All-Organic Redox Flow Battery
A new nonaqueous all-organic redox flow chemistry was developed with a cell voltage of ~2.4V, energy efficiency of >70%, and operational current density of >10mA/cm2. Electron spin resonance (ESR) study reveals that the chemical stability of both charged organic radical species dictates the cycling stability of flow cells and is highly dependent on the supporting solvents and salts. Read More
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Demonstration of Magnesium Intercalation into a High-Voltage Oxide Electrode
First demonstration of reversible insertion of multivalent magnesium ions (Mg2+) into a spinel-type manganese oxide (Mn2O4), using multi-modal characterization Read More
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An Organophosphine Oxide Redox Shuttle Additive that Delivers Long-term Overcharge Protection for 4 V Lithium-ion Batteries
A novel redox shuttle molecule, BPDB, was developed through replacing the tert-butyl group in DDB by bulky organophosphine oxide group Read More
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Anodes for Rechargeable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Recent developments on the protection of the Li metal anode in Li-S batteries are reviewed Read More
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Understanding the Initial Stages of Reversible Mg Deposition and Stripping in Inorganic Nonaqueous Electrolytes
The chemical species at the Mg-anode surface in the presence of Magnesium Aluminum-Chloro complex (MACC) electrolyte were identified. While solvent molecules (THF and DME) are loosely bound at the Mg(0001) surface, the constituents of the MACC electrolyte (e.g. MgCl+, see diagram) are strongly anchored at the electrode. Read More
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Next Generation Battery Technology
Jeff Chamberlain spoke with Steve LeVine about the development of next generation lithium-ion battery technology, covered live on C-SPAN at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C. Read More
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Direct Observation of the Redistribution of Sulfur and Polysufides in Li-S Batteries by In Situ X-Ray Fluorescence Microscopy
The dissolution and redistribution of sulfur and polysulfides were directly observed by XRF imaging. The long-chain polysulfides were generated as soon as discharge was initiated. The dissolved polysulfide diffused to the anode side and deposited onto (and reacted with) lithium metal. Read More
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Addressing Climate Change with Next Generation Energy Storage Technology
In March 2015, George Crabtree gave the keynote address, “Addressing Climate Change with Next Generation Energy Storage Technology” at the Institute of Environmental Sustainability Climate Change Conference at Loyola University. Read More
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Following the Transient Reactions in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Using an In Situ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Technique
First in situ NMR characterization of the full cell electrochemical reactions in Li-S batteries using a microbattery design Read More
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Tesla's Software Update Aims to End `Range Anxiety’
George Crabtree spoke with Cory Johnson on Bloomberg West about the battery technology electric cars have in place now, how it can be improved and improvements Tesla will be focusing on. Read More
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Natural Abundance 17O Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Computational Modeling Studies of Lithium Based Liquid Electrolytes
A high sensitivity NMR probe was developed at ultra-high field, allowing 17O NMR spectra on electrolytes acquired at concentration as low as about 20 mM. Read More
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A Lewis Acid-free and Phenolate-based Magnesium Electrolyte for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries
A novel Lewis acid-free all magnesium electrolyte containing 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxidemagnesium chloride ((DTBP)MgCl + MgCl2) has been deliberately developed. The obtained electrolyte possesses the oxidative stability of up to 2.3 V (vs Mg/Mg2+) with 100% coulombic efficiency, which is comparable to its AlCl3 counterpart. Read More
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#AskBerkeleyLab: Batteries for Electric Cars
Venkat Srinivasan, Department Head-Energy Storage and Distributed Resources at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and JCESR Deputy Director of Integration, explains how battery scientists are addressing the need for EVs with increased range and greater environmental impact. Read More
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Direct Observation of SEI and Dendrite Dynamics by Operando Electrochemical Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
Implemented “battery in a STEM” - an operando electrochemical stage inside an Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) Read More
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Molecular‐Confinement of Polysulfide within HybridElectrodes for High Mass Loading in Lithium Sulfur Batteries
N-doped carbon stabilizes the S3 radicals, which are rarely detected in ether-based electrolyte due to their high reactivity; this also restrains the polysulfide loss during battery cycling. Read More
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Next-Generation Batteries: A New Report
Venkat Srinivasan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Yi Cui, Stanford University; Linda Nazar, University of Waterloo; and Michael F. Toney, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory talk to media prior to their symposium entitled Next-Generation Batteries for Mobile Devices and the Grid at AAAS 2015 Annual Meeting in San Jose, California. Read More
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Electrolyte Genome Reveals New Instability Mechanism in Mg Electrolytes
imulations of a matrix of Mg salt and solvent combinations revealed a strong tendency to ion pair formation. Close association of the salt anion and cation within the first solvation shell, even at modest concentrations. Read More
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First-Principles Study of Redox End-Members in Li-Sulfur Batteries
Van der Waals-augmented density functional theory (vdW-DF), quasi-particle methods (G0W0), and continuum solvation techniques were used to predict several structural, thermodynamic, spectroscopic, electronic, and surface characteristics of solid-phase redox end-members in Li-S batteries. Read More