Joint Tsinghua-Liverpool Research Team Discover New Charge Storage Mechanism
16.8.2021 12:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Due to their high energy density and low cost, metal-air batteries are one of the most promising power sources of the future. A joint Tsinghua-Liverpool research team has recently developed a new charge storage mechanism that allows rechargeability within calcium-air batteries - a major step forward in battery technology.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210816005031/en/
Lu in Prof Hu’s lab where he set up experiments to cross compare results obtained at NTHU and at UoL.(Photo: National Tsing Hua University)
This discovery has been published in Chemical Science. The lead author of the paper, Yi-Ting Lu, is a joint doctoral student at Tsinghua and Liverpool, whose supervisors are Prof. Chi-Chang Hu (Department of Chemical Engineering, NTHU) and Prof. Laurence Hardwick (Department of Chemistry, UoL).
A major breakthrough related to Ca-air batteries
Prof. Hu said conventional lithium-ion batteries have a limited practical capacity. Thereby many researchers are working on developing alternative battery technologies. Their focus is on metal-air batteries based on zinc, lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminum. The advantage of the calcium-air battery is its high specific energy—five times that of traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, the feasibility of calcium-air batteries remains hampered by one major drawback—it cannot be recharged.
Lu explained that metal-air batteries are electrochemical cells usually using an active metal as the negative electrode, and a porous carbon material in contact with the air as the positive electrode. When the metal oxidized the oxygen at the positive electrode is reduced, generating electric current.
After completing his first year of doctoral studies at NTHU, Lu enrolled at the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy at UoL in September 2018. Under the supervision of Prof. Hardwick, he began doing research on the electrolyte used in calcium-air batteries.
Lu found when a single electrode is repeatedly charged and discharged, initially no reversibility can be observed, but after a few dozen cycles it gradually displays some reversibility. Surprisingly, the result seemed completely different from those in literature. The research team conducted a series of experiments aimed at uncovering the mechanism behind this phenomenon. On the electrode surface, the discharge products form a calcium oxide (CaxOy) interlayer, where the discharge product of oxygen, known as superoxide, is confined, allowing the superoxide to be then readily oxidized. This suggests the oxygen could probably be repeatedly oxidized/reduced, so that the cell can be continuously discharged/recharged.
Dr. Alex Neale, a Liverpool postdoctoral researcher, who is also part of the research team, said that through systematic electrochemical and spectroscopy investigations, the team began to understand the origins of this charge storage mechanism that facilitates a previously unseen degree of reversibility for systems based on the calcium-air battery.
Prof. Hardwick said the team will focus on designing new battery systems that use this newly discovered charge storage mechanism. He added that it was the cooperative research that made their discovery possible, and there are plans for even closer cooperation between NTHU and UoL in the future.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210816005031/en/
Contact information
Holly Hsueh
NTHU
(886)3-5162006
hoyu@mx.nthu.edu.tw
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Visby Medical Collaborates with Watchmaker Genomics to Enhance Respiratory Pathogen Detection in the At-Home Setting5.2.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
Visby Medical, a leading innovator in at-home PCR testing of infectious diseases, has announced a strategic collaboration with Watchmaker Genomics, a supplier of innovative products for molecular analysis, to develop next-generation diagnostic tests for respiratory pathogen detection in the at-home setting. This partnership pairs Visby Medical’s instrument-free PCR testing technology – the first and only of its kind – with Watchmaker’s expertise in engineering enzymes to address application-specific performance gaps. Clinical samples collected from patients for at-home testing are typically unprocessed, making them vulnerable to molecular inhibitors that can reduce signal strength and lower assay sensitivity. The need for rapid results in the at-home setting also places unique performance demands on the assays and the enzymes they rely on. “Recent increases in COVID cases involving new strains and the current flu season highlight the need for tests that are reliable and fast,” explaine
PubNub Achieves SOC 3 Compliance, Reinforcing Commitment to Security, Trust, and Transparency5.2.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
PubNub, the real-time communications platform that powers low-latency, event-driven logic across modern application architectures, is pleased to announce that it has achieved SOC 3 compliance. This latest attestation highlights PubNub’s continuous dedication to providing a secure and trusted platform for building and scaling interactive online experiences. The SOC 3 report affirms that PubNub’s systems meet the Trust Services Criteria for security, availability, and confidentiality. Unlike SOC 2 reports, which are restricted to existing customers or partners due to the level of operational detail they include, SOC 3 reports are designed for broad, public distribution. This transparency enables anyone to verify that PubNub adheres to the stringent controls required by the SOC 2 framework, providing proof of robust information security and operational integrity. This achievement adds to PubNub’s extensive compliance portfolio, which includes SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, HIPAA, and G
Veracode Closes Record Year of Growth and Innovation Amid Surging Demand for Application Risk Management5.2.2026 14:50:00 EET | Press release
Veracode, the global leader in application risk management, today announced a year of significant corporate momentum, product innovation, and customer growth throughout 2025. The company delivered strong performance in the final quarter of 2025, with new Annual Contract Value (ACV) increasing 81 percent year-over-year, underscoring sustained market traction and rising demand for its solutions. Veracode’s strong performance was fueled by growing demand for application risk management as organizations navigated the dual pressures of rapid AI adoption and increasingly complex software supply chains. Security and development teams are now prioritizing comprehensive platforms that deliver visibility, control, and compliance across application ecosystems, helping them meet evolving regulatory requirements and manage modern development risks. “We closed 2025 with an exceptional finish, and this is a direct result of our unwavering commitment to customer success,” said Brian Roche, Chief Execu
Kinaxis Introduces Maestro Agent Studio, Unlocking Next Level Decision Making Through Composable AI Agents5.2.2026 14:01:00 EET | Press release
Kinaxis® Inc. (TSX: KXS), the leader in supply chain orchestration, today announced Maestro Agent Studio, making the next phase of its AI agent strategy available to customers following the launch of prebuilt Maestro Agents. Maestro Agent Studio gives supply chain teams a no-code way to compose AI agents grounded in their real operating context, using the same data, workflows, and tools planners already rely on, so agents drive real-world outcomes. Built into the Kinaxis Maestro® platform, Maestro Agent Studio enables supply chain teams and leaders to apply their expertise across every day and high-impact supply chain decisions without relying on manual, repetitive tasks or custom code development. Maestro Agent Studio is designed to work with leading large language models, including OpenAI’s GPT and Google Gemini, while keeping agent behavior anchored in Maestro’s trusted data, intelligence, and governance. The reality facing supply chain leaders Supply chain teams make decisions in e
Introducing RAVE Aerospace: A New Name, Built on a Legacy of In-Flight Innovation5.2.2026 14:00:00 EET | Press release
For nearly two decades, RAVE has been a trusted name in in-flight entertainment and connectivity for customers around the world. Today, that heritage continues under a new company name: RAVE Aerospace. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205748681/en/ Kingswood Capital Management, LP (together with its affiliates, “Kingswood”) has completed its acquisition of Safran Passenger Innovations (“SPI”), a leading global provider of in-flight entertainment and connectivity solutions, from Safran, an international aerospace group. As part of the transaction, SPI has been renamed as RAVE Aerospace, which will continue to build on the established RAVE brand that has powered in-flight entertainment and connectivity solutions for its customers for almost 20 years. Matt Smith will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer, supported by the existing leadership team, as RAVE Aerospace accelerates its growth as a leading glo
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom