Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Significant Li plating capacity from Si anode. a, Li discharge profile in a battery of Li/graphite–Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 (LPSCl1.5)–LGPS–LPSCl1.5–SiG at current density 0.2?mA?cm–2 at room temperature. Note that SiG was made by mixing Si and graphite in one composite layer. Inset shows the schematic illustration of stages 1–3 based on SEM and EDS mapping, which illustrate the unique Li–Si anode evolution in solid-state batteries observed experimentally in Figs. 1 and 2. b, FIB–SEM images of the SiG anode at different discharge states (i), (ii) and (iii) corresponding to points 1–3 in a, respectively. c, SEM–EDS mapping of (i), (ii) and (iii), corresponding to SEM images in b, where carbon signal (C) is derived from graphite, oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) signals are from Li metal reaction with air and fluorine (F) is from the PTFE binder. d, Discharge profile of battery with cell construction Li-1M LiPF6 in EC/DMC–SiG. Schematics illustrate typical Si anode evolution in liquid-electrolyte batteries. e, FIB–SEM image (i) of SiG anode following discharge in the liquid-electrolyte battery shown in d; zoomed-in image (ii). Credit: Nature Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01722-x
Solid state battery design charges in minutes, lasts for thousands of cycles
SEAS researchers have developed a multiscale approach that allows particle-reinforced rubber to bear high loads and resist crack growth over repeated use. Above, cracks grow in the left sample while the cracks in the right sample, made from the multiscale material, remain intact after 350,000 cycles. Credit: Suo Group/Harvard SEAS)
Seriously increasing the longevity of rubber products such as tires
The experimental setup. The sensor sits atop the small glass box (left). A small amount of liquid containing VOCs (right) is added to the box, where it is drawn into the sensor via sniffing. (Credit: Aizenberg Lab/Harvard SEAS)
AI-enabled portable sensor can monitor air quality, identify spoiled food, and diagnose diseases
Think shrink-wrapped food: An antimicrobial plant-based food wrap designed to replace plastic
The cycle of decomposition and recomposition. During normal charge and discharge, the zombie molecule oscillates between its DHAQ2- form (left) and its DHAQ4- form (bottom center). When it decomposes, it turns into DHA2- (right). A voltage pulse resets the decomposed molecules (right) back to their original form (left). Credit: Yan Jing/Harvard SEAS
Toppling a major barrier to the commercialization of organic aqueous flow batteries
via Harvard SEAS
A leap-ahead technology for generating terahertz radiation
Terahertz lasers move closer for everyday applications
A robotic exosuit that can be calibrated to an individual and adapt to a variety of real-world walking tasks in a matter of seconds
A shape-shifting material that can take and hold any possible shape – infinite possibilities
Solar energy can be cheap, under 2 1/2 cents U.S. per kilowatt-hour, and reliable across China by 2060
Paving the way for small but mighty robotic devices that can punch well above their weight
Could AI be utilized to make democracy fairer?
A new vaccine technology could ward off a broad range of bacterial infections and septic shock
Could solar geoengineering have a good effect on agriculture?
A 40 year old problem solved: A long-lasting and stable solid-state lithium battery that can be charged 10,000 times or more