MAROKO133 Breaking ai: New polymer design reduces fire risk in lithium batteries, boosts i

📌 MAROKO133 Update ai: New polymer design reduces fire risk in lithium batteries,

Researchers have identified a key flaw in safer battery materials that limits how efficiently they move ions, and developed a way to fix it.

The work focuses on polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) which are nonflammable alternatives to conventional liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries.

Electrolytes play a central role in modern rechargeable batteries, allowing lithium ions to move between electrodes.

But many commonly used electrolytes are flammable, posing safety risks that have led to fires in devices like laptops, electric bikes, and electric vehicles.

PILs offer a safer option because they do not catch fire easily. However, materials that conduct ions well at room temperature tend to be too soft, making them difficult to use in practical devices.

To address this, researchers combined PILs with a second, more rigid polymer to form block copolymers. These materials self-assemble into nanoscale structures that can improve both strength and ion transport.

Fixing hidden ion traps

“One strategy to address this mechanical weakness is to connect the PIL to a second, rigid polymer, creating what is called a block copolymer,” said Gila Stein.

“As the distinct blocks do not like to mix, this block copolymer will spontaneously self-assemble into ordered nanostructures.”

These nanostructures are critical to how ions move through the material. But the team found that the arrangement is not perfect. Defects in the structure can act as barriers, blocking ion flow.

The researchers suspected that these defects behave like “dead ends” that trap ions, reducing overall conductivity. To test this, they designed multiple versions of the material and studied how structural changes affected performance.

Boosting conductivity through design

“Block copolymers are a fascinating blend of chemistry and self-organization,” said Samuel Adotey. “Even a small change in chemistry can significantly impact how the material organizes and behaves.”

The team focused on materials that form layered, or lamellar, structures, which provide a clearer view of how ions move. By analyzing these systems, they confirmed that the “dead ends” were responsible for lower conductivity.

“The self-assembly process has a lot of imperfections,” said Stein. “We thought it was likely that some of these defects were acting like ‘dead ends’ and blocking the movement of ions out of the material.”

Using this insight, the researchers developed design guidelines to reduce these defects. Their approach can improve ionic conductivity by up to an order of magnitude while maintaining the material’s structural stability.

“Unlike irregular or disordered domains, this system forms alternating sheets that clearly demonstrate how the ionic components influence spacing, mobility, and structural stability of the block copolymer,” Adotey explained.

“This research enhances our understanding of how to design PIL block copolymers that retain their nanoscale structure under practical conditions,” Adotey said.

With better control over structure and performance, these materials could be used in next-generation batteries and other technologies that require both safety and efficiency. The study also has implications for applications such as thin-film electronics and actuators.

The study was published in Macromolecules.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: One dead, 77 injured after Colombia military plane crash

A Colombian Air Force transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday, killing at least one person and leaving 77 hospitalized, authorities said.

The aircraft was carrying 125 people, including military personnel, when it went down in the southern Amazon region.

President Gustavo Petro said the status of more than 40 people on board remains unknown. Emergency teams rushed to the crash site as search and rescue operations continued late into the day.

Air Force Commander Fernando Silva confirmed the aircraft had 114 passengers and 11 crew members. He added that the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said the aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130, went down moments after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, near the Peru border. The plane was transporting troops at the time of the incident.

Crash after takeoff

Videos from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage. One clip captured the aircraft descending rapidly just seconds after liftoff before hitting the ground. Local media reported the crash occurred about 3 km from an urban area.

According to a Reuters‘ report, at least 71 people were rescued from the crash site. Emergency crews continued to search for survivors as authorities worked to verify the condition of those still unaccounted for.

A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin said the company extended condolences to those affected and is ready to support Colombia in the investigation.

Colombia’s military leadership said the probe would focus on identifying the technical or operational factors behind the crash, though no immediate cause has been confirmed.

Aging fleet concerns

The incident has renewed scrutiny of Colombia’s reliance on aging aircraft. The Hercules C-130 platform dates back to the 1950s, and Colombia began acquiring these planes in the late 1960s.

Petro criticized delays in efforts to modernize the country’s military fleet.

“I will grant no further delays; it is the lives of our young people that are at stake,” he said. “If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to this challenge, they must be removed.”

Colombia has upgraded some of its older aircraft in recent years, including receiving newer versions of the C-130 from the United States under programs that transfer surplus military equipment.

The crash also follows a similar incident in February, when another Hercules C-130 operated by the Bolivian Air Force went down in El Alto, narrowly avoiding residential areas.

Colombia’s Commander General of the Armed Forces, Hugo Lopez, said authorities would respond with “the utmost responsibility, humanity and transparency”.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with officials expected to analyze flight data, maintenance records, and crew operations in the coming days.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com