Mark Miodovnik, a materials scientist from UCL specializing in batteries, discusses the urgent need for next-gen battery technologies amid recent lithium-ion plant fires. He highlights the limitations of current lithium-ion solutions and the emergence of alternatives like solid-state and sodium batteries. Additionally, the conversation shifts to 'dark oxygen' found in deep oceans, potentially impacting marine life. Anjana Ahuja joins to share intriguing science stories, including innovative materials and the peculiar behavior of contagious urination in chimpanzees.
The podcast discusses the urgent need for safer and more efficient battery technologies, like lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries, in the face of lithium-ion shortcomings.
A new discovery in the deep ocean regarding polymetallic nodules raises significant questions about oxygen production and its ecological implications for marine life.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have become central to modern technology due to their energy density and lightweight design, making them ideal for smartphones and electric vehicles. However, they are not without issues, as evidenced by incidents like a fire at a major battery storage facility in California. The batteries can experience inefficient cycles due to wear and tear, resulting in reduced energy storage over time. Additionally, concerns about safety have emerged, with instances of fires originating from damaged batteries, highlighting the importance of proper recycling and disposal practices.
The Future of Battery Technology
Emerging battery technologies are on the horizon, particularly in the realm of lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries, which promise higher energy densities than the currently dominant lithium-ion technology. Lithium-sulfur batteries, while offering advantages, face challenges with cycle life that researchers are actively addressing. Solid-state batteries eliminate the need for flammable liquid electrolytes, potentially increasing safety and efficiency, making them a focal point for future battery development. Notably, applications in sectors such as medical devices are already being explored, where stability and safety are paramount.
Nature's Unexpected Oxygen Production
Recent discoveries have unveiled underwater polymetallic nodules, colloquially referred to as 'sea potatoes,' which may contribute to oxygen production in the deep sea without sunlight. These nodules, rich in metals such as manganese and nickel, can generate electrical currents that facilitate the electrolysis of water, thereby producing oxygen. This process raises intriguing questions about the ecology of deep-sea environments and their role in supporting marine life. Furthermore, the implications of such a discovery extend to astrobiology, as it challenges current understandings of oxygen production as an exclusive hallmark of life.
Following a devastating fire at the world’s largest lithium-ion battery plant, Inside Science probes the present and future of a technology we rely on every day.
Lithium-ion batteries were a technological breakthrough, powering everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles, but as funding is poured into researching alternatives, are we on the verge of something safer, faster, and more efficient?
Also this week, we learn about the “dark oxygen” potentially being produced in the deep ocean and friend of Inside Science, Anjana Ahuja, brings us her favourite science stories of the week, including a new material described as ‘chainmail on steroids’ and contagious urination.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Ella Hubber, Sophie Ormiston & Gerry Holt
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.
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