12-sided Power Dodecahedron: UCLA Unmasks the True Shape of Lithium

Photo Source - Google

Researchers at UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute have discovered a method to deposit lithium metal on surfaces without the typical corrosion, revealing the true form of lithium for the first time.

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Unlike lithium-ion batteries that trap lithium atoms in a carbon cage, lithium-metal batteries directly coat the electrode with metallic lithium, offering potential double performance.

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The UCLA team successfully laid down the lithium faster than it corroded, revealing its atomic organization as a distinctive 12-sided polyhedron, the rhombic dodecahedron.

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The understanding of lithium's true shape could revolutionize safety protocols, as its orderly form lessens chances of dangerous intersections that lead to short circuits.

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Cryo-electron microscopy, or cryo-EM, was pivotal in visualizing the lithium's form, capturing images at atomic levels while preserving sample integrity.

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Given the potential of lithium-metal batteries to store double the energy of lithium-ion counterparts, their adoption was limited due to safety concerns.

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The rhombic dodecahedron structure of lithium may pave the way for safer, more efficient lithium-metal batteries.

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This groundbreaking discovery not only redefines our comprehension of lithium-metal batteries but also signals the dawn of a new era in high-performance energy solutions.

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