Metals Tech

Batteries to power electric vehicles, smartphones, and other machines are evolving, and another development in the industry promises to improve the performance of the cells and make them lighter. A team of researchers from South Korea created a lightweight structure to improve the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, enabling them to remain stable after more […]

Scientist Lee Seok Woo said a scene from a “Mission Impossible” movie inspired his latest invention: batteries for smart contact lenses. In the fourth film of the series, an agent wears contact lenses capable of facial recognition and eye tracking. Lee wanted to make that lens a reality. “I was thinking, ‘How can I work […]

Have you ever wondered what a spacecraft and a pacemaker have in common? Both are powered by plutonium-238 (238Pu), a versatile isotope, known for its ideal heating properties. Recent research unveils a new high-resolution neutronics model that significantly improves the production of 238Pu, increasing yield by close to 20% in high-flux reactors and reducing costs. […]

The transition to electric cars is well underway. At the turn of the year, Denmark reached 200,000 registered electric cars, and last year electric cars accounted for 36% of all newly registered cars. However, the figure is quite different for electric trucks. Electric trucks only make up about 1% of the total truck fleet in […]

Battery technologies that can reliably operate at very low temperatures could be highly valuable for a wide range of applications. These batteries could, for instance, power devices, vehicles, and robotic systems in outer space, deep under the sea, and in other extreme environments. To safely and effectively operate in these environments, batteries should have components […]

A recently discovered Ford patent filing details an EV battery swapping system with an unusual design. Most battery swapping systems to date are designed to work with floor-mounted battery packs, but a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May, and originally filed by Ford in 2018, discusses drive-up […]

As the clean transition drives uptake of electric vehicles and energy storage for an electricity grid with ever greater dependence on variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the danger from battery fires grows as well. To limit this risk while improving battery performance, the next generation of batteries is likely to depend […]

The integration of all-solid-state batteries with sulfide electrolytes is emerging as a promising electrochemical system with potential advances in energy density. The demand for thin sulfides, especially those with high flexibility, superior ionic conductivity, and strong interfacial stability, is critical. The prevailing preference for solvent-free technology is well justified due to its environmental friendliness, cost […]

The global shift to electric vehicles is gaining momentum, yet the extraction of battery materials has a significant environmental footprint that comes with high costs. Now, two studies led by McGill University researchers offer hope in the search to manufacture cheaper and greener lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). Their findings unlock the potential to produce […]

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used additive manufacturing to produce the first defect-free complex tungsten parts for use in extreme environments. The accomplishment could have positive implications for clean-energy technologies such as fusion energy. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, making it ideal for fusion reactors where plasma temperatures exceed 180 […]