Pomegranate Seeds Inspire Better Batteries

Feb-19-14 A new battery inspired by the seed design of the pomegranate is able to hold ten times the charge of a typical rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

One common problem with lithium-ion batteries is that silicon anodes, which are able to store ten times the charges of graphite anodes, are also quite fragile and susceptible to leakage. This problem has typically been overcome by placing the silicon anodes in protective cases (yolk shells) made of carbon.

In the newest iteration of the technology, the team from Stanford University gathered the yolk shells into clusters using a microemulsion technique also used in the oil, cosmetics and paint industries. The clusters were then coated with a second, thicker layer of carbon, which held the ‘pomegranate clusters’ together while also providing a means of transport for the electrical currents. The smaller surface area of the clusters also exposes less area to the electrolyte, which reduces the formation of ‘gunk’ and improves performance.

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[INHABITAT.COM]
[STANFORD UNIVERSITY]

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