For some time, a nanomaterial known as MXene has been touted as a fast-charging alternative to the lithium used in batteries. Now that scientists have devised a way to make it last longer, it may soon become an even more viable option.
Currently, one of the major drawbacks of MXene is the fact that it rusts very easily in humid environments, inhibiting its electrical conductivity. If the rust cannot be removed, MXene’s batteries cannot be refurbished and reused.
Unfortunately, MXene membranes are much thinner than the width of a human hair, so rust has proven to be very difficult to remove. Adding a chemical coating to the material helps prevent rust formation, but it also limits the use of MXene.
So, a team at RMIT University in Australia discovered that sound waves appear to do the rust removal trick.
More specifically, the scientists found that when an oxidized (rusty) MXene film was exposed to high-frequency sound waves, the film vibrated and all the rust came off within about a minute. Once that rust was gone, MXene was restored to near pristine condition.
Once MXene batteries become widely used, it is hoped that they will be sonicated on a regular basis to keep them out of landfills.
“Materials used in electronics, including batteries, typically degrade after a few years of use due to rust formation,” says Assoc. One of his principal senior researchers, he is Professor Amgad Rezk. “Using our method, we have the potential to extend the life of battery components by up to three times.”
The study is described in a paper recently published in the journal. Nature Communications.
Source: RMIT University
