New Battery Regeneration Method Cuts Costs; Zinc Flow Battery Surpasses 5,500 Cycles

A research team at Cornell University has unveiled a Direct Electrode‑to‑Electrode Regeneration (DEER) process for lithium‑ion batteries. By opening cells, removing the solid electrolyte interphase in an electrochemical solution and preserving electrode structure, the method restored aged cells to up to 95 % of their original capacity. A techno‑economic analysis suggests the approach could lower processing costs by roughly 56 % and reduce water use and pollutant emissions, though it remains at the laboratory‑scale stage.

Separately, scientists from Fudan University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported a flowing‑suspension zinc‑nanoparticle battery. The design replaces a rigid zinc electrode with a circulating suspension, preventing uncontrolled crystal growth. In tests the cell operated continuously for 5,128 hours and retained 81 % of its capacity after more than 5,500 charge‑discharge cycles, with a coulombic efficiency of 99.94 %. Both innovations aim to improve battery sustainability, cost, and long‑term performance.