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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 1 4 NEW COATING FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES Scientists at the DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Ill., made a discovery that can help solve several potential issues with lithium-ion batter- ies simultaneously. The scientists de- veloped a new cathode coating by using an oxidative chemical vapor deposition technique that keeps the battery’s cathode electrically and ionically con- ductive and maintains its safety after many cycles. In the research, scientists took particles of Argonne’s pioneering nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cath- ode material and encapsulated them with a sulfur-containing polymer called Pedot. This polymer gives the cathode a layer of protection from the battery’s electrolyte as the battery charges and discharges during multiple cycles. Unlike conventional coatings, which only protect the exterior surface of themicron-sized cathode particles and leave the inte- rior vulnerable to cracking, the new coating penetrates to the cathode particle’s in- terior, adding an additional layer of shielding. Although Pedot prevents the chem- ical interaction between the battery and electrolyte, it allows for the necessary transport of lithium ions and electrons that the bat- tery requires. Battery sci- entists could likely scale up the coating for use in nick- el-rich NMC-containing batteries. With the coating applied, the team believes that these batteries could run at higher voltages, have longer lifetimes, or both. anl.gov. MICROALGAE INSPIRE SUPER- EFFICIENT SOLAR CELLS According to new research from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, the light-harvesting sys- tems found in microalgae could hold the key to developing the next gener- ation of super-efficient or- ganic solar cells. Microalgae are thought to be the oldest surviving organisms on the planet. They have evolved over billions of years to pos- sess light-harvesting sys- tems that are up to 95% effi- cient. This enables them to survive in the most extreme ENERGY TRENDS Light-emitting microalgae could inspire new designs for organic solar cells. environments and adapt to ongoing en- vironmental changes. Understanding how these systems work could yield important clues about how the processes could be used or re- created for use in new, super-efficient organic solar panels. Because of the complexity of the organisms and the huge variety of different species, how- ever, progress in this area has been limited. The research team used mass spectrometry methods, which enabled them to characterize individual com- ponents of the algae light-harvesting system. This approach enabled them to reveal details of distinct modules of the system that had never been ob- served before. The next step is to study in more detail howenergy is transferred through these light-harvesting systems and pin- point why the modules they have iden- tified are so efficient. “With most solar panels on the U.K. homes operating at 10-20% efficiency, increasing this efficiency to 95% will dramatically in- crease the use of solar power technol- ogy and in doing so help protect the environment,” say researchers . www. birmingham.ac.uk. The University of Edinburgh, U.K., and commercial partner Babcock International, Scotland, will build a $2.7 million engineering research facility to speed development of materials and structures for tidal ener- gy, transport, and other industries. The Fastblade facility will test new materials within full scale structures such as tidal blades, plane compo- nents, and bridge sections. www.ed.ac.uk . BRIEF Scientists developed a new coating (shown in blue) for battery cathodes that can improve the electronic and ionic conductivity. Fastblade facility. Courtesy of Fergus Cuthill.