In the “Star Wars” universe, characters harness the power of light through iconic lightsabers. Here on Earth, researchers are tapping into a similarly transformative phenomenon, aiming to build technology that uses beams of light to perform ever-faster computing. A team co-led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Columbia University, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid…
New research points to manganese as a critical step forward for lithium-ion batteries
In a breakthrough for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have identified manganese as a promising alternative to traditional materials used in battery cathodes. Smartphones, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems have spurred demand for lithium-ion batteries, but essential elements such as nickel and cobalt pose challenges to procure. However,…
Sandia Labs engineers MOFs for selective rare-earth element extraction
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, have announced that they are pioneering an environmentally friendly method to purify rare-earth elements for an array modern technologies. This research follows other recent announcements from Sandia, including a new computer simulation tool designed to accelerate scientific discovery. Exploiting metal-organic frameworks The crux of the new…