04-24-2016, 05:09 AM
Today, most smartphone and device batteries are made from lithium and slowly lose capacity over thousands of recharges. Researchers at UC Irvine built a battery that substituted gold nanowire in electrolyte gel for the lithium and lost barely 5% battery capacity over 200,000 charge cycles — but they aren't totally sure how it worked.
Accidental discovery could help batteries last years longer
Researchers at Sweden's Uppsala University have discovered the key role that oxygen atoms play in influencing the storage capacity performance of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The discovery will help to improve the development of new materials for future batteries to provide higher storage capacity than up to now.
Oxygen may be key to Li-ion battery storage capacity | Smart2.0
Cartridge-based hydrogen and methanol fuel cells have been around for a long time, yet while promising quick recharges and very long device autonomies, the technology has never really taken off in the consumer world. But this is about to change, according to fuel cell company Intelligent Energy (Loughborough, UK).
Smart2.0 - Consumer fuel cells about to gain traction?
Duke Energy, the nation’s largest utility, is trying a novel strategy to tackle this challenge. At its Rankin substation, in North Carolina, it has installed a system of hybrid energy storage that combines a battery from Aquion Energy and ultracapacitors from Maxwell Technologies. The two technologies are complementary. The ultracapacitors, which are good for large, short-duration power surges, help supply power when the solar power on the grid fluctuates because of cloud cover. The Aquion batteries, which are better for storing energy over longer periods, can supply power later in the day, when the sun goes down and electricity demand rises. Combining the two using smart electronics enables the system to efficiently handle power demand over periods ranging from seconds to several hours.