By directly visualizing the uneven insertion of lithium ions into electrodes with well-defined crystal orientations, researchers learned why fast charging decreases battery lifespan and performance. The work could provide insights into better battery utilization and help investigations of the surface insertion reaction during fast charging. Read more »
A New Way to Engineer Composite Materials
A new study led by researchers at Berkeley Lab outlines a way to engineer pseudo-bonds in materials. Instead of forming chemical bonds, which is what makes epoxies and other composites so tough, the chains of molecules entangle in a way that is fully reversible. Read more »
Apply by April 4 for ALS Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships
Applications will be accepted from mid-March–April 4 for ALS Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships that begin September 1, 2025. Fellows spend a year in residence at the ALS conducting research and instrumentation development in collaboration with their home institution. Read more »
Taimoor Hassan, ALS and ALS-U Electrical Safety Officer
In the eight months that Taimoor Hassan has been with the ALS and ALS-U, he has been able to apply his background in electrical safety, engineering, and RF systems. Learn more about the giant microwave he worked on in a previous job, and how all of his experience serves the interconnected work of the ALS and ALS-U. Read more »
Reaction Mechanism of Commercial Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes
Researchers used soft x-ray resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the ALS to understand the role of aluminum doping in improving the stability of commercially used cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Read more »