Scientists Fix Battery Voids with Magnesium Addition

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Scientists at University of Houston solved a battery mystery that stumped researchers for decades using powerful microscopes.

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Tiny empty spaces called voids were secretly killing solid-state batteries from the inside out.

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These microscopic gaps merge together like cracks in a wall, causing complete battery failure.

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Real-time videos captured the exact moment batteries die while working under electron microscopes.

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Adding small amounts of magnesium acts like a repair crew, filling voids before they become problems

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This simple metal addition dramatically reduces pressure needed to keep batteries stable.

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Electric vehicles currently need heavy, expensive cases because batteries require tremendous pressure to function.

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The magnesium fix eliminates this pressure problem, making EV batteries lighter and cheaper.

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Solid-state batteries don't catch fire like regular lithium batteries, solving major safety concerns.

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The US Department of Energy funded this research through their Battery 500 Consortium program.

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Scientists plan to test other metals that could make batteries perform even better than magnesium.

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