Posted on: 01/27/2024 Last updated: 01/27/2024
A research facility affiliated with the US Department of Energy is collaborating with the technology empire Microsoft, in a project that could reduce the amounts of lithium required to make lithium-ionized batteries by 70% from current rates.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Microsoft announced in separate statements that they had successfully developed a real test model of a battery that uses less lithium and produces enough electricity to power a light bulb.
It is noteworthy that lithium metal is the indispensable component in the manufacture of ionized lithium batteries, which are used in electric cars, smartphones, laptops, and other portable devices.
At the same time, increasing demand for electric vehicles has made lithium one of the most sought-after rare earth metals in recent years.
Meanwhile, environmental and human rights groups point to problems of pollution and inhumane working conditions often associated with the extraction of these minerals.
The BNNL Research Laboratory and Microsoft also announced the development of a test model for such a battery that uses an amount of lithium that is much less than the quantities used in batteries currently.
With the help of artificial intelligence and high-performance computers from Microsoft’s Azure Quantum Elements cloud computing platform; A suitable new substance has been identified, and the US government research institution can produce this new substance synthetically in the laboratory.
During the research project, 32 million potential raw materials were tested, and thanks to artificial intelligence, the number of the best materials was reduced to 18 promising materials within just 80 hours. This shortened the testing process, which would have been estimated at decades with traditional research methods.
Tony Burring, BNNL’s Deputy Director for Science and Technology, said that the combination of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and high-performance computing alongside scientists is an essential element to accelerate the path to reaching meaningful scientific results.
He added: “We see the ability of artificial intelligence to discover a material or approach that is unexpected and unconventional, but worthy of research.”
