battery research

Research in the Basque Country is putting Spain at the centre of European battery innovation, with a reported achievement of 10,000 charge cycles using chemistries that rely less on critical raw materials. The development is drawing attention as it could reduce dependence on scarce minerals and extend battery lifespan for electric vehicles and energy storage.

Researchers have developed a device that captures carbon dioxide by pumping the gas across a battery, an approach that requires less energy than existing carbon capture systems. The technology, reported by Ars Technica, could make direct air capture cheaper and more practical for tackling industrial emissions. Early coverage highlights it as a promising advance in climate and energy technology.

Researchers have developed a new device that captures carbon dioxide by pumping it across a battery, requiring less energy than existing carbon capture systems. The design, covered by Ars Technica, could make direct CO2 removal from air or emissions more efficient and cheaper, a key step for climate mitigation. Coverage is drawing interest from science and climate communities focused on energy costs of carbon capture technology.

Researchers report that a polymer-tuned perovskite material enables high-efficiency solar cells that can operate underwater, according to a report by Physics World. By modifying perovskite properties with a polymer, the cells can harvest light in aquatic environments where conventional silicon panels perform poorly. The advance could open the door to powering underwater sensors, monitoring equipment and other devices without batteries or cabling.

Researchers at MIT have developed an ultra-thin swimming robot powered by living muscle tissue rather than conventional motors or batteries. The paper-thin design uses biological muscle to propel itself through liquid, pointing toward soft, biologically driven machines. The project is drawing attention for blending tissue engineering with robotics, with observers highlighting possible uses in medicine, environmental monitoring, and confined spaces where conventional robots cannot operate.

Researchers have unveiled a walking robotic skin that can transform ordinary metal surfaces into a source of power, eliminating the need for an onboard battery. The material is described as a skin-like layer that both moves across surfaces and harvests energy from them, suggesting potential uses for small robots and devices that operate without charging.

MIT researchers have developed an aquabot — a paper-thin swimming robot powered by living muscle cells rather than motors or batteries. The cell-driven swimmer can navigate its way through a maze, demonstrating precise, untethered movement at tiny scales. The work highlights how biological actuators could enable soft, miniature robots for medicine or environmental sensing, and it is drawing attention across robotics and biotech communities.

Toyota has opened a new electric vehicle battery laboratory near Saline, Michigan, in a $50 million investment. The facility adds to the growing cluster of battery and EV research operations taking shape in the state, and is being reported by regional outlets as a sign of Toyota's continued push into electric vehicle development in the United States.

Researchers have developed a wallpaper material that generates small amounts of electricity from moisture in indoor air while also helping regulate humidity. The work, published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials, is drawing attention among technology enthusiasts, with discussion focusing on how such indoor energy harvesting could power low-energy sensors and smart-home devices without batteries.

Lion Battery Technologies reports progress on its lithium-sulfur battery technology that uses platinum and palladium. The company is developing the metals as catalysts to improve the performance and durability of lithium-sulfur cells, an alternative battery chemistry that could offer higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries. The announcement gives investors and battery industry watchers an update on the company's research efforts, though detailed technical or commercial results were not specified in the headline.

Researchers have developed a new polymer nanocoating inspired by cartilage that substantially extends battery lifespan. The coating could allow small devices such as hearing aids to run far longer before their batteries degrade, prompting jokes that hearing aids may now outlast the wearer's knees. The finding is drawing attention for its potential to improve everyday electronics and reduce battery waste.