Using Nanomaterials to Make Better Batteries

Batteries are everywhere in our lives—from our phones and watches to cars and military equipment. Lithium ion batteries (LiBs) are a rechargeable kind of battery often used in common electronic devices. Researchers are working hard to improve batteries, so they can be used for longer without recharging and so they can store more energy—perhaps even energy from wind or solar sources that we can use to power our homes and businesses. Recent research has shown that LiBs can be improved by using extremely tiny materials with special properties, called nanomaterials. When they are used in LiBs, nanomaterials can increase the amount of energy that can be stored and decrease the amount of time it takes to recharge. Nanomaterials can also extend the life of LiBs. In this article, we will explain how LiBs work and how nanomaterials might be used to improve their performance.