In situ transmission electron microscopy at EMSL was used to study structural changes in the team’s new anode system. Real-time measurements show silicon nanoparticles inside carbon shells before (left) and after (right) lithiation. Posted on 07/27/2016 10:29:55 AM PDT by Red Badger
In situ transmission electron microscopy at EMSL was used to study structural changes in the team’s new anode system. Real-time measurements show silicon nanoparticles inside carbon shells before (left) and after (right) lithiation.
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Lithium ion batteries drive devices from electric cars to smartphones. And society is demanding more batteries with more capacity from each battery.
To help meet this demand, EMSL users and researchers put their energy behind a clever new idea that, literally, gives batteries a bit of room to grow. Lithium ion batteries generate electricity by shuttling lithium ions through an electrolyte. In a fully charged battery, lithium ions are stored in a cathode, such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2).
When in use, lithium ions flow from the cathode through an electrolyte into the anode, most commonly made of carbon. During recharging, the ions are pushed back to the cathode where they started. Researchers built upon current technology by making a new type of anode that consists of single silicon nanoparticles inside carbon shells, much like yolks inside eggs.
In this new design, lithium ions flow from the cathode through the electrolyte, diffuse through the carbon shells, and enter the silicon—which can hold ten times as many lithium ions as carbon alone.
By leaving just the right amount of space, the lithiated silicon nanoparticles swell to fill, but not burst, the carbon shell.
The result?
A lithium ion battery system that compared to commercial batteries holds seven times more energy and can be discharged and recharged five times as many times before it wears out. Critical to its good performance, the new system forms a stable crust, a solid electrolyte interphase, on the anode that is a consequence of electrolyte decomposition. Moreover, the team’s manufacturing process is affordable, efficient, and can be readily scaled up.
Explore further: Nanoball Batteries Could Charge Electric Cars in 5 Minutes
More information: Nian L, H Wu, MT McDowell, Y Yao, C Wang, and Y Cui. 2012. “A Yolk-Shell Design for Stabilized and Scalable Li-Ion Battery Alloy Anodes.” Nano Letters 12(6):3315-3321. DOI: 10.1021/nl3014814
Journal reference: Nano Letters
I'm still waiting for that 100 mpg carburetor I read about 50 years ago.
Oh, they released that years ago - it only works on a lawnmower sized engine which can power a small bicycle about 10 mph max.
45 minute run time is more than enough for my less than 1500 sq. ft. yard.
actually a Honda 90 motorcycle(90cc engine) circa 1960’s got 100mpg(top speed 60mph),with the 100cc and 125cc succesively less mpg.
That might mow my front yard.....................
You are correct, I was just using a little hyperbole for humor. In Indiana motorized bicycles have made a big comeback because they are not considered a “motor vehicle” for traffic law purposes and people with suspended licenses can drive them legally on roadways with speed limits of 30 mph or less.
When will this hit the streets?
Soon, I hope!.....................
A muslim lawnmower?.......................
Lawnmower and fertilizer all in one package.
Yep. If I only had a dollar for every battery breakthrough article I’ve seen the past 30 years.
“offers more energy” - Oh, they must mean DiLithium because a battery offers nothing but the storage of energy to be released at a loss
Batteries have been improving at a rapid pace already: 
Considering the amount of research going in to advanced Li-Ion and other promising technologies, I wouldn't count on that trend stopping or slowing down. The opposite, actually.
This is from 2012.
There have been incremental improvements over the past 25 years but the true breakthroughs have been few and they’ve come from a small group of researches. OTOH, articles about breakthroughs that don’t amount to anything grow on trees, and I’d still like to have a dollar for every one.
Well, it’s ‘new’ to me!.......................
My lawn is about 60,000 sq. ft., but I do a lot of trim with a push, so just may be in the market ... what brand is that?
What's nice is the selection of batteries that are offered; you can match the power requirements to your specific situation.
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