2021 Create the Future Design Contest: Sustainable Technologies/Future Energy Category Winner — Multifunctional Bionanocomposite Fruit Coatings

The invention could capture the potential of the edible packaging market.

2021 Create the Future Design Contest: Electronics/Sensors/IoT Category Winner — Freetouch

Freetouch turns a smartphone into a touchscreen remote control.

Let’s Get Small: New Argonne Method Greatly Improves X-Ray Nanotomography Resolution

Scientists are working to improve the image resolution of X-ray techniques.

Energy Harvesting Can Enable 1 Trillion Battery-Free Sensors in the IoT

A tiny investment in system capital expenditures can lead to huge rewards in reduced capital and operating expenses.

Analytical Model Evaluates Battery Capability

The model helps researchers fine-tune battery performance.

Safer, Less Expensive, Fast-Charging Aqueous Battery

A new anode for aqueous batteries uses seawater as an electrolyte.

System Harvests Energy from Radio Waves to Power Wearable Devices

The electricity can be used to power wireless devices or to charge energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors.

Long-Life Lithium-Metal Battery

The technology could be key to lighter, less expensive, and long-lasting batteries for future electric vehicles.

New Materials Move Li-Ion Batteries Toward the Solid-State Endgame

A new generation of lithium-ion batteries is poised to improve electric vehicle range and affordability.

Mapping Performance Variations to See How Lithium-Metal Batteries Fail

Brookhaven National Laboratory scientists have identified the primary cause of failure in a state-of-the-art lithium-metal battery.

Advancing Battery Technology: THE 2021 BATTERY SHOW Preview

The Battery Show North America is a forum for advanced battery technology for electric and hybrid vehicles, utility and renewable energy support, portable electronics, medical technology, military, and telecommunications.

Metal-Free, Recyclable Polypeptide Battery Degrades on Demand

The new battery is degradable, recyclable, non-toxic, and safer than lithium-ion batteries.

Rechargeable Cement-Based Batteries

An entire 20-story concrete building could store energy like a giant battery.

Hybrid Membrane Doubles the Lifetime of Rechargeable Batteries

The membrane prevents dendrite formation, at least doubling the lifetime of a lithium-metal battery.

Cloud-Connected, Battery-Based IoT Devices Last Years Longer

Demand for wireless IoT cloud-connected devices is growing rapidly, yet deploying Wi-Fi battery-based products is difficult.

3D-Printed Biodegradable Battery

The battery can withstand thousands of charge and discharge cycles and years of storage before being composted.

An Immersive Solution for Thermally Safer EV Batteries

An R&D project indirectly leads to potentially greater power density, EV range, and battery life.

Sustainable Aluminum-Anode Batteries

The rechargeable batteries could be a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

System Identifies Battery Materials for Recycling

The Battery Identity Global Passport could be accessible as a scannable QR code or a computer chip.

New Spraying Method for Producing Ceramic Coatings

High-quality coated components can be integrated into complex systems in a sustainable way.

Device Powers Wearable Sensors Through Human Motion

A triboelectric generator made of flexible circuit boards creates electricity when the wearer moves.

Safer, Longer-Lasting, Solid-State Batteries

Solid-state batteries offer a higher level of safety and potentially longer life than lithium-ion batteries.

Nanoparticle Gel Unites Oil and Water in Manufacturing-Friendly Approach

This novel gel-creation method could open applications in water filtration, batteries, and smart windows.

Stable, Efficient, Anode-Free Sodium Battery

The battery is smaller than a traditional lithium-ion battery due to the elimination of dendrites.

Ultrahigh-Energy-Density Capacitor

By introducing defects to a common material, a highly efficient capacitor offers dramatically increased energy density.

Carbon Fiber Structural Battery for “Mass-Less” Energy Storage in Vehicles

The carbon fiber serves as the electrode, conductor, and load-bearing material.

Pyroelectric Sandwich Thermal Energy Harvester

The technology harvests electrical energy from waste heat sources.

Flywheel Energy Storage Continues to Advance Green Initiatives

Flywheels offer an environmentally and financially sound choice for protecting critical operations.

Electrolyte Boost Improves Performance of Aqueous Dual-Ion Batteries

New cell chemistry utilizes less costly and more abundant materials than lithium-ion batteries.