Pitt team finds water ‘likeability’ plays a role in
battery-charged objects
Findings have implications for producing stronger, more
durable batteries
Objects made from graphite—such as lithium-ion batteries—are
“hydrophobic,” meaning that they “dislike” water. For decades this lack of
likeability has presented significant challenges in terms of building more
durable technological devices made with graphite—until now.
It appears that past samples of graphite were likely
contaminated by air, causing the samples to appear hydrophobic, according to a
University of Pittsburgh study. The Pitt team has demonstrated—for the first
time—these materials are actually intrinsically attracted to water or “hydrophilic.”
The findings, published in Nature Materials, have particular implications for
lithium-ion batteries and super capacitors, as both battery types are built
from these materials.