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Researchers ran molecular dynamics simulations of a 1 M LiPF6 solution in ethylene carbonate solvent, comparing a machine-learned force field (QRNN) against a conventional empirical force field (OPLS4). The two methods produced markedly different molecular structures around lithium ions, with the QRNN simulations revealing previously unidentified clusters containing multiple lithium ions bound together.
Licube, a startup licensing lithium separation technology from Hirosaki University in Japan, is presenting at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield. The company aims to purify lithium-6, a rare isotope that fusion reactors need to breed tritium fuel on site, since it makes up only about 7.5% of naturally occurring lithium. CEO Yohei Kiguchi told TechCrunch he expects the lithium-6 market to reach $50 billion by 2040 if fusion power becomes commercially viable.
A technology explainer outlines the core distinctions between alkaline batteries, the disposable AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt cells used in low-draw gadgets like remotes, and lithium-ion batteries, the rechargeable cells found in smartphones, laptops, cameras and power tools. It also flags that disposable 'lithium AA' batteries are a 1.5-volt alkaline substitute and should not be confused with rechargeable lithium-ion packs, even though both use lithium-based chemistry.
Energy Dome has activated its first commercial-scale energy storage facility in Sardinia, Italy, with a capacity of 200 megawatt-hours, capable of powering approximately 18,000 homes for 10 hours. The company, founded in 2020 and based in Milan, plans to develop up to 30 gigawatt-hours of storage projects across five continents, leveraging its unique carbon dioxide battery technology that does not rely on specific geological formations. While the technology is estimated to be more cost-effective than lithium-ion for longer durations, it currently has only one operational plant and faces efficiency limitations compared to traditional batteries.
WeLion New Energy has advanced its semi-solid-state battery technology, achieving an energy density of 824 wh/kg in testing during 2025. The company previously released a battery pack with 360 wh/kg in partnership with Nio, supporting over 1,000 km of range, though production costs limited its scale. Additionally, WeLion is developing batteries for maritime applications and exploring higher energy densities.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said the company is in a "leading position" on solid-state battery technology and will release its first vehicle using the tech in 2027. This aligns with earlier statements from BYD battery subsidiary FinDreams, which said mass production of sulfide-based solid-state batteries would follow around 2030, with lithium iron phosphate batteries still used alongside them in lower-tier models.
A technical explainer breaks down how to calculate the actual energy stored in a power bank by converting its milliamp-hour (mAh) rating into watt-hours (Wh) using battery voltage, typically 3.7V for lithium-ion cells. It notes that a 10,000 mAh bank stores about 37Wh, while modern MacBook batteries range from roughly 37Wh to 100Wh, meaning smaller power banks may not fully recharge larger laptop batteries.
A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao turned back to the Netherlands after a portable charger caught fire in business class nearly six hours into the flight over the Atlantic. The device, belonging to former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings, scorched his seat and window blind. Passengers were rebooked and completed the journey to Curaçao the following day.
Lithium-ion cells age from heat and from time spent at the extremes of charge. Most of the folklore about charging habits is either obsolete or beside the point.
Wireless chargers using the Qi2 standard convert energy less efficiently than wired cables, losing up to 30 percent of power as heat during the charging process. That extra heat can degrade smartphone battery capacity by up to 12 percent over two years, and as much as 25 percent in hot climates or environments.
Cornell University scientists created a process called Direct Electrode-to-Electrode Regeneration (DEER) that revives worn EV battery electrodes by chemically stripping excess solid electrolyte interphase buildup rather than shredding cells into raw materials. Treated electrodes recovered up to 95% of original capacity and degraded more slowly than untreated batteries, and a second treatment round restored capacity to 90% even after prior regeneration.
MIT Technology Review's latest list of under-35 innovators highlights researchers and founders working on climate tech, including Jae-Won Chung's software for measuring AI models' energy consumption, Jing Wei's AI-based pollution tracking, and Zhonghua Zheng's city-specific climate models. The list also features Mohammad Alkhadra of Lithios and Benjamin Mowbray of Rock Zero, two startups developing faster, cheaper methods to extract lithium from brine and hardrock ore respectively.