Since the first lithium-ion battery was developed in 1991, scientists have been looking for ways to enhance its efficiency, especially when it comes to its graphite anode. According to a previous research, portabella mushrooms, known for their high degree of porosity, could be used in place of graphite as anodes inside Li-ion batteries. This time…
A few days back, we talked about a research by MIT scientists, involving an entirely new material that can store solar energy during the day and release it as heat by night-time. Being highly transparent, the substance could be used to de-ice windshields and prevent snow buildup. Winter months usually usher in a host of…
In this age of smartphones and tablets, batteries are the life force that makes the world go round. Scientists are continually looking for ways to make batteries more efficient and powerful. Last year, for instance, a team of Singaporean researchers developed a new type of Li-ion battery that can be charged to 70-percent of its…
Previously, we have talked about how titanium dioxide gel can potentially be a good substitute to conventional graphite as anodes inside the Lithium ion battery. Well this time around, a research team at the University of California, Riverside, has opted for something more 'natural' in the form of cheap portabella mushrooms that could take over…
While renewable energy resources are indeed the future, many of the currently-available technologies lack feasibility when it comes to widespread, everyday use. For instance, even with the falling price of solar panels, installing a home-based photovoltaic array is often quite an expensive affair. Although the most viable option, in certain areas, wind power usually requires…
In October, we talked about an advanced Li-ion battery design that replaces graphite with the cheaper titanium dioxide gel. This time around, scientists at the Purdue University have developed a new alternative for graphite, in the form of a material made from tin-oxide nanoparticles. According to their research (which is published in Advanced Energy Materials),…