IIT Madras develops new material combination to improve life of batteries
New Delhi :
Researchers of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) has developed a new material combination to significantly improve the life of rechargeable batteries that are used in devices such as smartphones, laptops, etc.
Carbon material have already been looked –
Prof Prathap Haridoss, department of metallurgical and materials engineering, IIT-M, said the composite of molybdenum trioxide nanobelts and single walled carbon nanohorns, a flower-like structure developed for anode in a battery, showed high energy storage capacity, better cycle life. “Both molybdenum trioxide and the carbon material have already been looked at separately as an anode, but they have limitations. The combination we have made is showing much more promise than either of the materials separately.” Molybdenum is used to make parts of aircraft, missiles and as an alloying agent in steel, while carbon nanohorns belong to the carbon nanomaterial family that includes carbon nanotubes and graphene.
Researchers at @iitmadras have developed a new material that will significantly improve the life of rechargeable batteries used in devices such as smartphones, laptops, etc. This wonderful #innovation by #IITMadras promises to be a big boon for the electronic & EV industry. pic.twitter.com/CChy93aYBz
— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) November 26, 2020
Lithium ion batteries has remained a challenge –
Lithium ion battery, made up of an anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte and two current collectors-the positive and negative- is charged and discharged by lithium ions moving between anode electrodes, made of graphite, and cathode electrodes, made of nickel based material. The limited lifetime of lithium ion batteries has remained a challenge.
High charge-discharge capability and structural stability –
Raghavan Gopalan, regional director of ARCI, said the use of carbon nanohorns enhances the lithium storage capability of molybdenum trioxide nanobelts, which already has high charge-discharge capability and structural stability, by improving its conductivity. “When produced on a large scale, it will be a big boon for the electronic and EV industry,” he said.
Showing a potential for better battery life –
Raju Prakash, team lead, ARCI, said the structural morphology of the material, which may otherwise be affected and could lead to less cycle life, remained stable when tested at a high charge rate of 5C, which is just 12 minutes to achieve full charge, thereby showing a potential for better battery life. This wonderful innovation by IIT Madras promises to be a big boon for the electronic & EV industry.
Read More Article Here –
IISc Bangalore discovers five species of vine snakes
New Delhi :
Researchers at Indian Institute of Science, Banglore’s (IISc Bangalore) Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) have discovered 5 new species of Asian vine snakes. The research was led by a former student of IISc, Ashok Mallik. Malik & the team carried out several field visits across the country to collect data & samples to understand the diversification of vine snakes.
Pre-urban areas has only added new dimensions to the species –
Though vine snakes are common in the country, especially the dry regions and Western Ghats, finding new species in the Pre-urban areas has only added new dimensions to the species. According to the report, the researchers found four distinct small-bodied and short-nosed species: the Northern Western Ghats vine snake (ahaetulla borealis), Farnsworth’s vine snake (ahaetulla farnsworthi), Malabar vine snake (ahaetulla malabarica) and Wall’s vine snake (ahaetulla isabellina) in the Western Ghats’ forests. They also found the long-nosed vine snake (ahaetulla oxyrhyncha) in the lowlands and drier parts of peninsular India. This snake is much larger and is morphologically distinct.
