Show Notes 21 March 2025
Story 1: Lithium needed for the battery revolution could be harvested from salt-lake brines or geothermal brine solutions
Source: Imperial College announcement by Ian Mundell
Link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/261774/lithium-needed-battery-revolution-could-harvested/
See also: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-03-lithium-battery-revolution-harvested-saltwater.html
See research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-025-00398-8
- Demand for lithium is rising due to its use in batteries for mobile devices, cars and clean energy storage. Securing access to natural deposits of the mineral [extracted using traditional ground-based mining practices] is now matter of strategic importance, but lithium can be found elsewhere in nature [other than in the ground].
- As an alternative to mining, Imperial College researchers at the London campus have created a technology that could be used to efficiently extract lithium from saltwater sources such as salt-lake brines or geothermal brine solutions.
- Conventional lithium extraction [to date] from brines takes months and uses significant amounts of water and chemicals, generating greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
- The alternative developed by the Imperial College team in the Department of Chemical Engineering uses a membrane that separates lithium from salt water by filtering it through tiny pores.
- The usual shortcoming with previous membrane filtering systems is that the pores also let through magnesium and other contaminants. To solve this problem the team has developed a class of special polymers that are highly selective for lithium.
- For more than a decade, the Imperial College team has been working on a new generation of synthetic polymer membranes, based on materials known as polymers of intrinsic microporosity. These polymers are shot through with tiny, hour-glass shaped micropores that provide ordered channels through which small molecules and ions can travel.
- Side note: Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) are a fascinating class of materials known for their unique structure and properties. These polymers have a continuous network of interconnected voids that are less than 2 nanometers in width, making them microporous. Their rigid and contorted macromolecular chains prevent efficient packing in the solid state, which is what gives them their intrinsic microporosity.
- PIMs are used in various applications, including gas separation, carbon dioxide capture, and even as materials for membranes and adsorbents in industrial processes. They are also being explored for their potential in heterogeneous catalysis and hydrogen storage.
- In this new study, the team fine-tuned the micropores to become highly selective for lithium. Used in an electrodialysis device, lithium ions are effectively pulled through the membrane micropores by an electrical current, while larger magnesium ions are left behind.
- Side note: Electrodialysis is a fascinating process used for separating ions from a solution under the influence of an electric field. It involves the use of ion-exchange membranes that are selectively permeable to either positive or negative ions. Here’s how it works:
- When an electric voltage is applied across a saline solution, ions migrate toward electrodes with opposite charges. Anion-exchange membranes allow negatively charged ions to pass, while cation-exchange membranes allow positively charged ions to pass. This results in the separation of ions from the solution.
- Electrodialysis is widely used in water desalination, wastewater treatment, and the food and beverage industry (e.g., demineralizing whey or stabilizing wine). It is also employed in the production of acids and bases from saline solutions.
- Compared to other separation methods like reverse osmosis, electrodialysis offers higher recovery rates and reduced chemical usage in many applications.
- Tested on simulated salt-lake brines, these polymers of intrinsic microporosity membranes were highly selective for lithium and produced high purity battery-grade lithium carbonate.
- If these membranes are to be of practical use, however, they must be produced in large quantities. Fortunately, the polymers are soluble in common solvents and can be turned into membranes using established industrial techniques.
- Side note – I wondered if this could be used for ocean water. Co-Pilot AI came back with the following information that may suggest that ocean water would not be a good candidate:
Salt lake brines and ocean seawater differ significantly in composition, origin, and environmental context:
- Salt Concentration:
- Salt lake brines are typically much saltier than ocean seawater. For instance, the Great Salt Lake in Utah and the Dead Sea contain extremely high salt concentrations, often making them hypersaline environments.
- Ocean seawater has a relatively stable salinity, averaging about 3.5% (35 parts per thousand), which is much less concentrated than most salt lake brines.
Story 2: Nanoparticle breakthrough could bring ‘holy grail’ of solar power within reach
Source: LiveScience.com Story by Ben Turner
See the research paper here: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/el/d4el00029c
- This article highlights a significant breakthrough from the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute in the U.K. in solar energy technology, focusing on a new advancement in perovskite solar cells.
- First we need a refresh on perovskite solar cells: These cells are lightweight, flexible, and have the potential to revolutionize solar energy by being applied to various surfaces, such as cars and phones.
- Side note: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are an exciting advancement in solar technology, differing from standard solar cells (usually silicon-based) in several key ways:
- Material: Standard solar cells are made from crystalline silicon, whereas perovskite cells use a perovskite-structured compound, typically involving a mix of organic and inorganic materials. This difference in material gives perovskite-structured compounds unique optical and electronic properties.
- Efficiency: Perovskite cells have shown rapid improvements in efficiency over a short period. While silicon cells currently dominate with efficiencies around 20-25%, PSCs have already surpassed 25% in lab settings, and their potential for further improvement is high.
- Manufacturing Process: Silicon solar cells require energy-intensive processes, including high-temperature treatments and expensive equipment. In contrast, PSCs can be manufactured using simpler, low-temperature processes like solution-based printing or coating, which could make them cheaper to produce at scale.
- Flexibility: Perovskite cells can be made lightweight, thin, and flexible, opening up possibilities for integration into unconventional surfaces like windows, walls, or even wearable technology. Traditional silicon cells, on the other hand, are rigid and heavier.
- Stability and Longevity: This is where standard silicon cells outperform PSCs—silicon cells are highly durable, often lasting 25-30 years. Perovskite cells, while improving, are still less stable and degrade faster under environmental stress like heat and moisture.
- Environmental Considerations: The manufacturing of PSCs has the potential to be more eco-friendly due to lower energy inputs. However, some perovskite formulations include lead, raising concerns about environmental impact and requiring careful handling and disposal.
- Perovskite cells hold promise for a more versatile and cost-effective future in solar energy, but they still face challenges like scaling up production, improving stability, and addressing environmental concerns. It’s an exciting field—perfect for innovators and problem-solvers!
- Here’s the major flaw with perovskite solar cells to date: Stability and Longevity: This is where standard silicon cells outperform perovskite solar cells —silicon cells are highly durable, often lasting 25-30 years. Perovskite cells, while improving, are still less stable and degrade faster under environmental stress like heat and moisture.
- With all that said, here’s the big news: the University of Surrey researchers tackled a big problem to date with perovskite solar cells – iodine leakage.
- Side note on iodine leakage: Iodine leakage is a significant issue for perovskite solar cells because it compromises their stability and efficiency. Perovskites are known for their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, but they are chemically unstable. When iodine leaks from the perovskite material, it can lead to degradation of the cell’s structure and performance. This leakage is often triggered by environmental factors like moisture and UV light, which cause chemical reactions that break down the perovskite material
- In the new study, the scientists looked for a way to trap the iodine that leaks from perovskites. Their solution was to embed tiny nanoparticles of aluminum oxide within the cells as they were manufactured. This not only prevented the iodine from leaking but also created a more uniform and electrically conductive structure.
- After testing these cells under extreme heat and humidity, the researchers found that the modified cells maintained a high performance for more than two months (1,530 hours), a significant improvement on the 160-hour lifespan of unenhanced perovskite cells.
- This improvement makes the cells more cost-effective, efficient, and viable for widespread, real-world use.
- Commercial Implications: This development by the University of Surrey could reduce reliance on silicon, a costly and non-renewable resource currently dominating solar technology.
Story 3: Mimicking Human Skin, This Self-Healing Gel Could be Applied to Soft Robotics
Source: Discover Magazine Story by Monica Cull
See the research paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-025-02146-5#Sec5
See also: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250307130138.htm
- This article highlights a groundbreaking development in hydrogel technology inspired by the properties of human skin.
- Until now, artificial gels have managed to either replicate high stiffness or natural skin’s self-healing properties, but not both.
- Now, a team of researchers from Aalto University in Finland and the University of Bayreuth in Germany has developed a hydrogel with a unique structure that overcomes earlier limitations, opening the door to applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, soft robotics sensors and artificial skin.
- The research team has created a new hydrogel that combines both flexibility and self-healing capabilities.
- This innovation could lead to advances in areas such as soft robotics, artificial skin, wound healing, and drug delivery.
- The breakthrough involves adding “large and ultra-thin clay nanosheets” to hydrogels and arranging polymers between them.
- The mixture is then set using UV light, resulting in a material that mimics the stiffness, flexibility, and self-repairing nature of human skin. My comment – be sure to check out the research paper for all the geeky details.
- This discovery opens up possibilities for creating bio-inspired materials with enhanced functionality.
Story 4: Man survives with titanium heart for 100 days – a world first
Source: Nature Magazine Story by Smriti Mallapaty
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00782-0
See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW3MMFmDobs
- An Australian man in his forties has become the first person in the world to leave hospital with an artificial heart made of titanium. The device is used as a stopgap for people with heart failure who are waiting for a donor heart. Previous recipients of this type of artificial heart were required to remain in US hospitals while it was in place.
- The man lived with the device for more than three months until he underwent surgery to receive a donated human heart. The man is recovering well, according to a statement from St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney in Australia, where the operations were conducted.
- The Australian is the sixth person globally to receive the device, known as BiVACOR, but the first to live with it for more than a month.
- Some cardiologists say BiVACOR could become a permanent option for people not eligible for transplants because of their age or other health conditions, although the idea still needs to be tested in trials.
- BiVACOR was invented by biomedical engineer Daniel Timms, who founded a company named after the device, with offices in Huntington Beach, California, and Southport, Australia.
- The device is a total heart replacement and works as a continuous pump in which a magnetically suspended rotor propels blood in regular pulses throughout the body. A cord tunneled under the skin connects the device to an external, portable controller that runs on batteries by day and can be plugged into an electric outlet at night
- More about BiVACOR:
- BiVACOR is a groundbreaking medical device company that has developed the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart (TAH). This innovative device is designed to completely replace the function of a failing heart, serving as a bridge for patients awaiting a heart transplant. Unlike traditional artificial hearts, the BiVACOR TAH uses advanced **magnetic levitation (MAGLEV) technology** to operate a single rotary pump, which circulates blood throughout the body and lungs. This design minimizes wear and tear, making it highly durable.
- The device is compact, constructed from titanium for strength and biocompatibility, and powered by an external rechargeable battery. It has already been successfully implanted in several patients, with one individual recently setting a record by living over 100 days with the device before receiving a donor heart.
- BiVACOR represents a significant step forward in heart failure treatment, offering hope to patients who face long waits for donor hearts. If you’d like to learn more, you can visit their official website at https://bivacor.com/.
Honorable Mentions
Story: Scientists Use Amino Acid to Extract 99.99% of Lithium from Old Batteries
Source: Technology Networks
- A new strategy for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries is based on a hydrometallurgical process in neutral solution. This allows for the extraction of lithium and other valuable metals in an environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and inexpensive way, as a Chinese research team reports in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The leaching efficiency is improved by a solid-solid reduction mechanism, known as the battery effect, as well as the addition of the amino acid glycine.
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Story: Spinning, Twisted Light for Next-Generation Electronics
Source: RealClearScience.com
- Researchers have advanced a decades-old challenge in the field of organic semiconductors, opening new possibilities for the future of electronics. The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge and the Eindhoven University of Technology, have created an organic semiconductor that forces electrons to move in a spiral pattern, which could improve the efficiency of OLED displays in television and smartphone screens, or power next-generation computing technologies such as spintronics and quantum computing.
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Story: Nanoparticle Could Act as Switch in Optical Computers – New nanoparticles can switch between dark and bright states
Source: IEEE Spectrum Story by Katherine Bourzac
Link: https://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoparticle-optical-switches
- Researchers have sought materials that can switched between dark and bright states when exposed to light that could make switches for future photonic computers. Now scientists in California say they have made nanoparticles with this property for the first time.
- This kind of switching behavior is a must for computing systems. To make digital logic, engineers need materials with bistability; that is they can be switched between two different states that represent the “1” or “0” of digital logic. Today’s transistors use semiconducting materials, primarily silicon, that can be switched between conducting and insulating states. Berkeley Lab nanoparticle specialist Emory Chan says the new nanoparticles—which at tens of nanometers across are about the size of many features on modern microchips—could provide a similar switching behavior for optical systems.
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Story: James Webb telescope’s view of the Flame Nebula is a ‘quantum leap’ forward for astronomers
Source: LiveScience.com Story by Jamie Carter
- Why is it so special: What are the smallest stars? A deep dive into the star-forming Flame Nebula by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed free-floating, Jupiter-size objects that could help answer that key question in astronomy.
- The free-floating objects are brown dwarfs, which straddle the line between stars and planets. Brown dwarfs are often called “failed stars” because they don’t get dense and hot enough to become stars and, instead, eventually cool to become dim, hard-to-see objects.
- However, exactly how small a brown dwarf can be is a mystery, largely because these objects are impossible to study using standard telescopes. But JWST is sensitive to infrared light, which it sees as heat. The telescope went looking for relatively warm and bright young brown dwarfs in the Flame Nebula, whose dense dust and gas proved no match for its infrared detectors.
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