Canadian discovery could help batteries last longer

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Canadian discovery could help batteries last longer

Published

2 months ago

January 31, 2023

Harry Miller

A chance discovery in a Canadian laboratory could help extend the life of laptop, phone and electric car batteries.

According to scientists from Dalhousie University in Halifax, common adhesive tape in batteries may be the reason many devices lose some of their power while off or not being used, which is a phenomenon known as self-discharge.

“In our laboratory we do many highly complex experiments to improve batteries, but this time we discovered a very simple thing,” Michael Metzger, an assistant professor in Dalhousie University’s physics and atmospheric science department, said in a news release. “In commercial battery cells there is tape—like Scotch tape—that holds the electrodes together and there is a chemical decomposition of this tape, which creates a molecule that leads to the self-discharge.”

The solution is simple, too, Metzger says: replace the polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, plastic tape commonly used inside batteries with something more durable and stable.

“It’s a commercially relevant discovery,” Metzger said. “It’s a small thing but it can definitely help improve battery cells.”

Metzger and his team have been trying to understand why lithium-ion battery cells in inactive devices tend to lose some of their power and self-discharge, something that has long frustrated consumers and manufacturers alike.

“Every manufacturer of lithium-ion cells in the world wants to make self-discharge as small as possible,” Metzger told CTVNews.ca in a joint statement with graduate student Anu Adamson. “In every battery there is a small rate of self-discharge that slowly drains the battery. This is very inconvenient for users and a big headache for industry.”

The electrodes that power batteries are separated by an electrolyte solution that is usually a form of lithium. After exposing several battery cells to different temperatures, researchers were surprised to see that electrolyte solution had turned bright red when it normally should be clear, which was something they had never encountered. The discovery was made by Adamson and two other students.

Chemical analysis of the red electrolyte solution revealed that at higher temperatures, a new molecule had been created inside the battery through the decomposition of common PET adhesive tape, which is often used to hold components together inside batteries. Strong and lightweight, PET is also frequently used for plastic packaging, drink bottles, clothing fibres and more.

Researchers realized that the red molecule, dimethyl terephthalate, was acting as a redox shuttle, meaning that it can transport electrons between a battery’s positive and negative electrodes, creating self-discharge and depleting power even when a battery is not in use. Ideally, the shuttling of electrons within a battery should only happen when a device is on.

“It’s a very simple thing—it is in every plastic bottle and no one would have thought that this has such a huge impact on how the lithium-ion cells degrade,” Metzger said in the news release. “It’s something we never expected because no one looks at these inactive components, these tapes and plastic foils in the battery cell, but it really needs to be considered if you want to limit side-reactions in the battery cell.”

The findings are outlined in a pair of studies published on Jan. 20 and Jan. 23 in the peer-reviewed Journal of The Electrochemical Society. The researchers are now testing PET tape substitutes.

“Since the PET in the tape is the culprit that creates the redox shuttle, we need to replace it with a polymer that is more stable and does not decompose in the harsh chemistry of a lithium-ion battery,” Metzger and Adamson told CTVNews.ca. “So far, the results look very promising, and we plan to publish a new research paper on improved polymers for lithium-ion battery tapes soon.”

According to the researchers, their work has been attracting interest from “some of the world’s largest computer hardware companies and electric vehicle manufacturers,” which are eager to reduce self-discharge and improve battery performance.

“We visited some of these companies and they are planning to implement more stable polymers in their battery cells,” Metzger said.

In the release, Metzger noted: “One of the engineers said, ‘I heard you guys found out something is wrong with PET tape.’ So, I explained to him that it’s causing this self-discharge and asked him, ‘What are you using in your cells?’ He said, ‘PET tape.'”

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Tech

E3 2023 cancelled: Gaming’s biggest trade event and bastion of internet memes is no longer

Published

9 hours ago

March 31, 2023

Harry Miller

E3, gaming’s biggest trade event, has been cancelled.

Once the obvious home for the industry’s biggest players to make major annual announcements, the show has been heavily disrupted since the COVID pandemic and usurped by other initiatives.

The likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have become used to hosting their own livestreams instead, showing off their new games throughout the year rather than coalescing around a marquee event.

But this year was supposed to be E3’s grand comeback – with a multi-day, in-person conference in Los Angeles scheduled for June for the first time since 2019.

The writing had seemed to be on the wall for some months, though, with PlayStation maker Sony, Nintendo, and Assassin’s Creed developer Ubisoft among the companies to have said they wouldn’t be going.

E3 organisers Reedpop and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) have now announced its cancellation.

Kyle Marsden-Kish, of Reedpop, said: “This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3.

“We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn’t have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn’t overcome.”

More gaming news:
Surprise winner at BAFTA Games Awards
Why Hogwarts Legacy was so controversial

At its peak, E3 was a mouth-watering proposition for gamers who could look forward to a whole week of surprising reveals and updates about their favourite consoles and franchises.

Fans would tune in from all over the world to watch news conferences from the likes of Microsoft’s Xbox division and Elder Scrolls and Fallout studio Bethesda, which included live demos of games in development.

Some fans even took time off work, while younger viewers stayed up late on school nights to hear the latest.

‘You’re breathtaking’ among infamous moments

The first E3 was in 1995, where Sony announced a release date for its first PlayStation console.

Highlights from the 2019 show, which was open to the public as well as industry professionals and media, included John Wick star Keanu Reeves promoting the then upcoming Cyberpunk 2077.

“You’re breathtaking. You’re all breathtaking,” he told an adoring audience.

Previous shows had seen a Microsoft executive roll up his sleeve to show off a Grand Theft Auto tattoo by way of announcing the next game’s arrival on Xbox; Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appeared on stage to promote a special Beatles’ edition of the Rock Band series; and Nintendo’s former US boss Reggie Fils-Aime uttering “my body is ready” while showing off Wii Fit, words that would become a staple of internet memedom.

Other famous attendees have included Elon Musk, Steven Spielberg, Tony Hawk, and the late Pele.

What’s next?

Reedpop and the ESA have said they still plan to work together on future events.

In the meantime, June will still likely prove an exciting time for gaming announcements – Summer Games Fest, an online-only showcase that began in lockdown in 2020, will return and publishers like Sony are expected to hold their own digital news events.

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The Japanese Collector’s Edition Of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Is Available At Amazon

Published

18 hours ago

March 30, 2023

Harry Miller

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom might be the most-anticipated game of 2023. If you’re interested in snagging some cool collector’s gear to go with the game, you’ll want to check out the Japanese Collector’s Edition, which is available to import through Amazon. And since the US version of the Collector’s Edition is sold out right now, this might be your only way to get all the exclusive swag that comes bundled with the base game. The Zelda-themed Pro controller is also available to import for around the same price as the CE, which means it’s quite a bit more expensive

~$148

The Tears of the Kingdom Japanese Collector’s Edition costs ¥14,520, which roughly translates to $110. You’ll also have to pay around $38 shipping, bringing your total cost to approximately $148. Inside, you’ll find the base game, a steelbook game case, poster, pinset, and art book. You’ll also get a Zelda-themed fork and spoon–a preorder bonus that’s exclusive to the Japanese version of the game.

You might want to be careful before rushing off to preorder this Collector’s Edition, however, as it’s unclear if it’ll include English subtitles or voiceovers. Breath of the Wild eventually received English dubs for its Japanese version–but that update didn’t arrive until several months after launch. So unless you speak fluent Japanese (or don’t mind taking a gamble), you might want to hold out on a purchase until we hear more from Nintendo about its language options. Of course, some collectors may just want to have all of the goodies that come with this edition, in which case the language barrier may not matter.

Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t launch until May 12, but preorders for the US Collector’s Edition sold out shortly after going live. That makes this Japanese Collector’s Edition one of the only ways to get all the collectibles. It’s possible Nintendo could open another batch of preorders–but we’d expect those to sell out just as fast as the first batch.

Though the North American Collector’s Edition is hard to find, you can preorder the special-edition Nintendo Switch OLED from major retailers, including Amazon. Check out our The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom preorder guide for details on all things related to the upcoming Zelda game.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

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Apple to host Worldwide Developers Conference in June

Published

2 days ago

March 29, 2023

Harry Miller

People attend a keynote address event during the 2022 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC22) at the Apple Park in Cupertino, California, the United States, June 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Free for all developers, WWDC23 will spotlight the latest iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS advancements. The event will also provide them with unique access to Apple engineers, as well as insight into new technologies and tools.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 29 (Xinhua) — Apple announced on Wednesday the company will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in an online format June 5-9, with an opportunity for developers and students to celebrate in person on the opening day at Apple Park, in the western U.S. state of California.

This year’s online program will include sessions, one-on-one labs, and opportunities to engage with Apple engineers and other developers.

WWDC23 is also an opportunity to support student developers through the Swift Student Challenge, one of many Apple programs that seek to elevate developers and learners of all ages who love to code. With the help of Swift Playgrounds, students can create an app playground on a topic of their choice, according to Apple.

“WWDC is one of our favorite times of the year at Apple because it’s an opportunity to connect with the talented developers from around the globe who make this community so extraordinary,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. ■

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