Press Clips

A Lithium Battery That Goes to Extremes

IEEE Spectrum | July 7, 2022

A new lithium-ion battery works at frigid temperatures of -40 °C all the way to scorching high of 50 °C. With a cathode made of sulfur, the new lithium-sulfur battery could pack more energy than is possible with today's chemistries. The batteries could increase the driving range of EVs in cold climates and be used in satellites, spacecraft, high-altitude drones, and submarines. "By largely expanding the operation window for lithium batteries, we can provide more robust and resilient battery chemistry for applications beyond EVs," says Zheng Chen, a professor of nanoengineering at UC Full Story

New Super Battery for Electric Vehicles Can Withstand Extreme Temperatures

Newsweek | July 4, 2022

A new type of battery for electric vehicles can survive longer in extreme hot and cold temperatures, according to a new study. Scientists say the batteries would allow EVs to travel further on a single charge in cold temperatures--and they would be less prone to overheating in hot climates. This would result in less frequent charging for EV drivers as well as give the batteries a longer life. Full Story

Batteries built with bumpy components work better in the freezing cold

New Scientist | June 8, 2022

Lithium-ion batteries often lose their charge at sub-zero temperatures, but a design incorporating bumps into one of the main components makes them work much better. Creating batteries that perform well at cold temperatures may also help researchers engineer one that works better at room temperature as well, says Ping Liu at the University of California San Diego. Full Story

UC San Diego spinout South 8 Technologies nets $12M for tech to improve lithium batteries

The San Diego Union-Tribune | April 26, 2022

South 8 Technologies, a UC San Diego spinout that has developed a novel way to boost voltage and improve safety in lithium batteries, said Tuesday that it has raised $12 million in a first round of venture capital funding. The 15-employee company will use the money to get more prototype cells with its Liquefied Gas Electrolyte -- or LiGas -- technology into the hands of outfits working on electric vehicles, all-weather grid storage, aerospace and defense products and renewable energy. Full Story

The Bendy Batteries That May Power the Future of Small Tech

Daily Beast | April 10, 2022

?The technology is close to being ready, it?s just the power source that isn?t there yet,? Shirley Meng, professor of nanoengineering and materials science at the University of California, San Diego, told The Daily Beast. ?For something like wearable sensors, you need something that is flexible and safe enough to be worn right on your body in a wide range of temperatures.? Full Story