Cambridge pressure method doubles EV battery lifespan; Northwestern gel stores energy in color‑changing liquid

Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that applying a steady mechanical pressure of about 12.5 bar to lithium‑ion pouch cells can double their cycle life. The pressure reduces the mechanical stress that causes degradation, with too little pressure leading to cathode cracking and too much causing lithium plating. The findings, published in Nature Energy, were demonstrated on laboratory‑scale cells and are protected by a patent filed through Cambridge Enterprise.

Scientists at Northwestern University reported a yellow liquid that, when “charged” by light, electricity or other energy sources, reorganises into a black, electrically conductive hydrogel. The gel stores electrons for months in an oxygen‑free environment and releases them to oxygen, producing reactive oxygen species that drive oxidation reactions. This “dark photocatalysis” could be used for pollutant degradation, surface sterilisation and other chemical processes. The work appears in the journal Chem and is described as a material that stores chemical redox energy rather than conventional electrical charge.