Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin, Northeastern University, Stanford University and Argonne National Laboratory identified a key reason why rechargeable batteries lose performance. They found that every charge and discharge cycle makes a battery expand and contract, an effect the team compares to breathing. This repeated motion causes tiny shape changes and stress. The process, called chemomechanical degradation, reduces performance and shortens battery life. The study was published in Science.
One notable finding is what the researchers call "strain cascades." Stress can build in one region of an electrode and then spread to nearby areas because the many particles inside an electrode move unevenly. Some particles shift quickly while others stay more stable, and this concentrated stress can cause cracks or other damage over time.
The team used operando transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) and 3D X-ray laminography to image particle motion in real time. The behaviour was first observed in a device used for another project: commercial earbuds. The study suggests engineers could design electrodes that resist stress or apply controlled pressure to reduce damage, and researchers plan to develop theoretical models to explain the interactions.
Difficult words
- expand — become larger in size or volume
- contract — become smaller or tighter in size
- chemomechanical — relating to chemical and mechanical changes
- degradation — gradual loss of quality or performance
- strain cascade — series of stress increases that spreadstrain cascades
- electrode — a conductor that carries electric currentelectrodes
- particle — a very small piece of materialparticles
- laminography — an X-ray method to image 3D structure
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What design changes could engineers make to reduce damage to electrodes in rechargeable batteries?
- Have you experienced a device with a battery that lost performance? How did that affect your use of the device?
- Do you think applying controlled pressure to reduce battery damage is practical for everyday devices? Why or why not?
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