The term ‘traffic jam’ may have originated on a cattle ranch in 1883, when cowboys were directing a herd through a narrow gate. Whether this is true or false is a matter for debate. However, nowadays we use the term to describe slow moving traffic that stops and starts. Preventing a lithium traffic jam smooths out the flow of ions. Rachel Berkowitz is a corresponding editor for Physics Magazine based in Vancouver, Canada. She posted an article on April 23, 2024 describing how researchers observed lithium ions become trapped in a cathode, reducing battery performance. The team were using in-sit ..read more

Sand is so plentiful everywhere we go that we scarcely notice it under our feet. The composition of this granular mineral varies depending on the local geology. Although it is most likely to be silica in the form of quartz in inland continental settings. Storing energy in sand  could help supplement batteries, and play an important role in renewable electricity that could help cool global warming. The Science Behind Energy in Sand Sand gets hot under our feet because it has a low ‘specific heat’ and absorbs warmth easily. It can also store large amounts of this energy, because it is so de ..read more

A circular economy in the mind of a philosopher could be an ideal world in which we use everything over and over again. A kitchen garden could work that way if we recycled the peelings and leftovers as fertilizer. That’s all fine and dandy in principle. But how could a circular battery economy work in practice, is it possible to achieve this goal do you think? Reusing Batteries In a Circular Economy Some 95% of our lead-acid battery materials recycle, thanks to a design that is easy to dismantle. This is a happy, albeit unintended coincidence, although we strongly recommend you don’t try takin ..read more

Sodium-ion batteries have persistently occupied headlines recently, with claims they are the super batteries of the future. The evidence on the table certainly seems powerful. Sodium-ion batteries are safer and cheaper. They are also less likely to contain materials mined in conditions we would not tolerate in our own country.  But how good is sodium-ion technology really, when we set these concerns aside? Is Sodium-Ion Technology Good Enough For Us? China certainly seems to think that the product is a runner, with BYD constructing a huge factory there. Sweden’s Northvolt could also ..read more

Researchers at Oak Ridge Laboratory found a new, more efficient way to recover lithium metal from previous applications.  These sadly often-neglected resources include mining sites, oil fields, and spent batteries according to Mining.Com. The Oak Ridge report we link to below describes the novel acid-free lithium recovery process their scientists discovered. The New Oak Ridge Acid-Free Lithium Recovery Process The novel Oak Ridge method uses an existing mineral, aluminum hydroxide, in common use for managing acid indigestion. Although the material is also a good fire retard ..read more

A black hole in physics is a point in space-time with such powerful gravity, that nothing can escape it. Two scientists, one from Norway and the other from Venezuela, compared a tiny hole to a giant battery capturing energy. They imagined the possibility of a micro black hole cellular battery storing sufficient energy for a family for generations. Must I Reserve My Micro Black–Hole Cellular Battery Now? No, not at all. This is all ‘up there’ in the realm of theoretical physics for now, where we can’t touch it. However, we thought to mention the idea, because we can’t recklessly keep burni ..read more

It is not abundantly clear – to us at least – which battery brands are behind the spate of lithium-ion fires. It is all well and good to say ‘stick with the original brand’. But when you are feeding your family delivering take-outs on an electric bicycle, price matters too. UL certification is brand-independent, and so we explore how it works. Who Controls UL Certification of Lithium-Ion Batteries? That’s a fair question and it deserves a straight answer. UL Solutions started out as Underwriters’ Electrical Bureau, under the umbrella of National Board of Fire Underwriters in 1894. The com ..read more

Lithium-based batteries could be able to recharge thousands of times, and still work depending on the quality of their manufacture. Ones that we can trust should have temperature sensors, voltage regulators, and battery charge-state monitors. We share the most important battery-life extension tips, to help you avoid accidentally damaging your lithium-based battery. Life Extension Tips for Maintaining Lithium Batteries The positive electrode in almost all lithium-based batteries can overheat, and explode in fire if the component is compromised or damaged. Fortunately, this is statistically ..read more

Bright iron pyrite mineral also goes by the name ‘fool’s gold’, because its pale brass-yellow luster looks like the precious mineral. Many credulous investors lost their money after they sunk cash into ‘gold-mining’ ventures that failed. Notwithstanding this, pyrite mineral is back in fashion. Indeed, it could make a new posse of investors wealthy, according to researchers. Past and Future Uses for Bright Iron Pyrite Sulfur-rich pyrite minerals functioned as flint stones in ancient Roman times, and for recent decades in sulfur dioxide production. We were musing over this interesting fact, when ..read more

Our roads and highways are so busy nowadays that collisions seem almost inevitable. Although we can reduce our statistical risk by thinking before we act, and doing the sensible thing. Lithium-ion battery fires are happening more frequently too, judging by media reports. Avoiding home battery fires is largely possible when we understand how they begin. Avoiding Mistakes That Lead To Home Battery Fires Many road accidents are the result of loss of concentration, and inattention while driving. Avoiding home battery fires can be as simple as thinking before we charge batteries, and foll ..read more