Researchers accidentally boost power and capacity of Li-ion battery

In a recent, a group of researchers accidentally expanded the lifespan of a lithium-ion battery considerably. The researchers have devised a method of producing lithium-ion batteries using nanoparticles.

The MIT and Tsinghua University researchers have created an electrode made of nanoparticles with a solid shell, and aluminium ‘yolk’ inside. The yolk is able to change size again and again without affecting the shell, thus providing a boost in the battery’s capacity and power.

The use of nanoparticles with an aluminum yolk and a titanium dioxide shell has proven to be “the high-rate champion among high-capacity anodes,” the team reports.

Surprisingly this invention took place by accident. The researchers were actually working to stop the oxide coating that forms on the surface of aluminum nanoparticles when it is exposed to air. However, the test was left for longer than intended, with the result being the sulfuric acid and titanium oxysulfate mix leaking into the 50nm nanoparticles and dissolved some of the aluminum inside.

Rather than discarding this forgotten batch, they decided to test it by building batteries using these particles. And this is how the forgetful scientists led to the quantum leap of lithium-ion batteries.