UT Dallas Solves a Decades-Old Lithium Mystery
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) have cracked a long-standing problem that’s hindered the commercialization of lithium-nickel-oxide (LiNiO₂) batteries—a promising material for durable, longer-lasting lithium-ion power. What’s the Issue? LiNiO₂ has long held potential as a next-gen cathode material for batteries, offering the prospect of significantly extended life. Yet recurring degradation during repeated charge cycles has blocked its path to real-world use. Until now, the root cause remained unclear. The Breakthrough UT Dallas engineers, part of the BEACONS initiative (a $30 million Department of Defense–backed program launched in 2023), dove into the breakdown process using advanced computational modeling. Their atomic-level analysis revealed a surprising culprit: a chemical reaction involving oxygen atoms within the LiNiO₂. This reaction destabilizes the cathode structure, leading to cracking and degradation over time. Once the degradation mechanism was understood, the team devised an elegant solution: reinforcing the cathode by introducing positively charged ions—“pillars” that bolster the material’s structural integrity and prevent the splitting caused by oxygen dynamics. From Idea to Prototype With this conceptual fix in hand, UT Dallas is shifting into development mode. Matthew Bergschneider, a doctoral student and first author of the study, is setting up a robotics-driven lab that will automate the synthesis and testing of the strengthened LiNiO₂ cathodes. The plan is to begin with small-scale prototypes and scale up to producing hundreds of batteries per week—paving the way for full commercialization. Why It Matters for Batts.biz and the Battery Sector Key Takeaways
Most Popular Batteries On Amazon (2025)
Never get caught with a dead battery again – here’s everything you need to know about Amazon’s best-selling power solutions In our increasingly digital world, reliable power is everything. Whether it’s keeping your smoke detector functional, ensuring your phone stays charged during a long flight, or powering your RV adventure, the right battery can make or break your day. After analyzing Amazon’s current bestsellers and expert reviews, we’ve compiled the definitive guide to the top battery products dominating the marketplace in 2025. The Traditional Battery Champions: Tried and True AA & AAA Batteries: The Household Workhorses When it comes to everyday alkaline batteries, three brands consistently dominate Amazon’s bestseller lists: Duracell Coppertop remains the undisputed king, with their 24-count AA battery pack leading sales across multiple categories. What sets Duracell apart? Their proprietary “Power Boost Ingredients” technology delivers consistent, long-lasting power that justifies the premium price point. Amazon Basics has carved out an impressive niche as the value champion. Their high-performance alkaline batteries offer a 10-year shelf life and remarkable affordability without sacrificing quality. For budget-conscious consumers, these batteries deliver exceptional bang for your buck. Energizer Max rounds out the top three, particularly popular in combo packs that include both AA and AAA batteries – perfect for stocking up during sales events. Specialty Batteries: The Unsung Heroes Don’t overlook the smaller players that keep our modern gadgets running: Power Banks: The Modern Essential The portable power bank market has exploded, with Amazon customers increasingly demanding convenience, speed, and reliability. Here are the standouts: Best Overall Performance INIU Portable Chargers have become the surprise hit of 2025. Their slimmest 10,000mAh model offers 5V/3A charging power at what reviewers call “the price of a month of Netflix.” The combination of affordability and performance has made INIU a customer favorite. Anker PowerCore 10K maintains its reputation as the traveler’s choice. Compact, travel-ready, and featuring PowerIQ technology, it’s the power bank that frequent flyers swear by. Innovation Leaders The trend toward magnetic wireless charging has been dominated by Anker’s MagGo series, with their 10,000mAh Qi2-certified power bank becoming the go-to choice for iPhone users who want seamless charging without cables. Built-in cable designs are revolutionizing the market. Products featuring permanently attached charging cables eliminate the frustration of forgotten cords and offer the ultimate in convenience. Expert’s Choice For serious power users, the Anker 30W Nano Power Bank stands out with its ingenious metal hook design that creates a loop for easy one-handed phone use while charging – a game-changer for travelers navigating with maps apps. Automotive Power Solutions: Beyond the Car Battery The automotive battery category on Amazon tells an interesting story about our connected car culture: Key fob replacement batteries dominate sales, with specific packs for Toyota, Honda, Ford, and other major brands. This reflects both the prevalence of keyless entry systems and consumers’ desire to handle simple repairs themselves. For actual vehicle power, Mighty Max AGM batteries and Renogy Deep Cycle systems lead the way, particularly among RV enthusiasts and off-grid adventurers. High-Capacity Power Stations: When You Need Serious Juice For users who need more than a simple phone charger, portable power stations have become increasingly popular: Anker’s 521 Portable Power Station offers a compact 256Wh capacity with LED display and built-in lighting – perfect for camping or emergency backup. Nestout’s 15,000mAh Outdoor Battery has earned rave reviews for its rugged, waterproof design and versatility, making it ideal for serious outdoor enthusiasts. The Quality Rankings: What the Experts Say Independent testing reveals some surprising insights about battery performance: Interestingly, many budget brands perform adequately for basic needs, but premium brands justify their pricing with superior performance in high-drain devices. 2025 Trends Shaping the Market Several key trends are driving Amazon battery sales this year: Sustainability Focus: Eco-friendly and energy-efficient devices are seeing increased demand as consumers become more environmentally conscious. USB-C Standardization: Power banks with USB-C Power Delivery technology are becoming the norm, offering faster charging speeds across more devices. Solar Integration: Solar-charging capabilities in portable power solutions are moving from niche to mainstream, reflecting growing interest in off-grid power solutions. Smart Features: LED displays showing exact battery percentages, pass-through charging, and intelligent power distribution are becoming expected features rather than premium add-ons. Shopping Smart: Pro Tips for Battery Buyers For Household Batteries: For Power Banks: Red Flags to Avoid: The Bottom Line Amazon’s battery marketplace in 2025 offers unprecedented variety and value, but success lies in matching the right product to your specific needs. For everyday household use, stick with proven brands like Duracell, Energizer, or Amazon Basics. For portable power, INIU and Anker offer the best combination of performance and reliability. The key insight from our analysis? Don’t compromise on safety for savings. Quality batteries from reputable manufacturers consistently deliver better performance, longer life, and crucially, greater safety than budget alternatives. Whether you need a simple AA battery for your TV remote or a high-capacity power station for your next camping adventure, Amazon’s 2025 battery selection has you covered. The hardest part isn’t finding a good option – it’s choosing between so many excellent ones.
Natron Energy’s $1.4B Meltdown Shocks Industry
Natron Energy’s abrupt closure represents a critical inflection point for the nascent sodium-ion battery sector, highlighting the fundamental challenges facing alternative battery chemistries in competing against established lithium-ion technologies. The company’s collapse, despite securing $1.4 billion in planned investment and achieving the industry milestone of UL-listed sodium-ion batteries, underscores the precarious economics facing next-generation energy storage technologies. The 70% crash in lithium carbonate prices over recent years has fundamentally altered the competitive landscape, eroding the cost advantage that sodium-ion batteries were positioned to capture. This price volatility demonstrates how commodity market dynamics can rapidly invalidate entire business models built on material cost arbitrage, particularly when scaling challenges prevent rapid market penetration and revenue realization. From a strategic perspective, Natron’s failure illuminates the valley of death that emerging battery technologies must navigate between laboratory success and commercial viability. The company’s inability to convert $25 million in booked orders into cash flow due to certification delays reveals the critical importance of regulatory pathway management in battery commercialization strategies. The loss of North Carolina’s first major battery gigafactory project, along with 95 high-skilled jobs, signals broader supply chain vulnerabilities in the U.S. domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem. For sodium-ion technology broadly, this setback likely consolidates momentum around Chinese manufacturers like CATL and BYD, who have achieved greater scale and lower costs, while highlighting the need for more patient capital and integrated supply chain strategies for Western sodium-ion players to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving energy storage market.
Hithium Begins US Production with First BESS Shipments from Texas Factory
Chinese battery manufacturer Hithium has commenced shipments from its new 484,441-square-foot manufacturing facility in Mesquite, Texas, marking a significant milestone in domestic energy storage production. The Xiamen-based company officially opened the facility in May 2025, following a construction timeline that began in July 2024. Initial investment doubled from the originally planned $100 million, with the plant targeting 10GWh annual production capacity for battery modules and complete systems—though cell manufacturing remains offshore. Market Context and Policy Impact The facility launch comes amid shifting US energy policy dynamics. While the previous Biden administration promoted domestic clean energy manufacturing, policy uncertainty under the current Trump administration has contributed to an estimated 21GWh of planned BESS cell manufacturing capacity being cancelled since early 2025, according to Clean Energy Associates. Despite these setbacks among smaller players, major manufacturers are following through on expansion plans. Solar Media Market Research projects that capacity additions from Tesla, Canadian Solar, and LG Energy Solution will bring US-based annual BESS cell manufacturing to over 50GWh by end-2026, with similar assembly capacity expected by end-2025. Technology and Incentives US manufacturers can still access significant incentives, including a 10% domestic content bonus for the investment tax credit and production tax credits worth $35/kWh for cells and $10/kWh for modules. However, new restrictions on foreign entity of concern (FEOC) materials and investments from China have tightened under recent H.R.1 legislation. Hithium continues advancing its cell technology in China, recently launching a 1175Ah large-format lithium iron phosphate cell for 4+ hour duration applications and mass-producing 587Ah cells optimized for 2-hour applications. The company currently supplies cells to NHOA, Risen Energy, Powin (recently acquired by FlexGen), and its own integrated BESS projects. “Local manufacturing lets us meet American standards, respond quickly to demand, and work with communities and partners to drive the clean energy transition,” said James Boswell, Hithium’s VP of North America operations.
India’s Offgrid Secures $15M to Challenge Lithium Dominance with Zinc-Bromine Batteries
Indian deep-tech startup Offgrid Energy Labs has raised $15 million in Series A funding to scale its zinc-bromine battery technology as an alternative to lithium-ion systems. The seven-year-old company, incubated at IIT Kanpur, aims to reduce dependence on China’s lithium supply chain while offering more cost-effective energy storage. ZincGel TechnologyThe startup’s proprietary ZincGel batteries deliver 80-90% of lithium-ion efficiency but at significantly lower levelized storage costs India’s Offgrid raises $15M to make lithium optional for battery storage. Key advantages include: Commercial TimelineOffgrid plans to build a 10-megawatt-hour demonstration facility in the UK by Q1 2026, with commercialization following shortly after. A gigafactory in India is planned as the next phase India’s Offgrid raises $15M to make lithium optional for battery storage | TechCrunch. The company has secured over 25 IP families and 50+ patents across multiple markets. Market ContextIndia aims to increase non-fossil energy capacity from 50 gigawatts to 500 gigawatts by 2030 and targets 236 gigawatt-hours of battery storage by 2031-32 India’s Offgrid raises $15M to make lithium optional for battery storage. However, China’s lithium supply chain dominance presents challenges for scaling renewable energy storage globally. Funding and PartnershipsThe Series A round was led by specialty chemicals manufacturer Archean Chemicals, which now holds a 21% stake, with participation from Ankur Capital. Early testing partners include Shell and Tata Power, with discussions underway with Europe’s Enel Group India’s Offgrid raises $15M to make lithium optional for battery storage. The startup is valued at approximately $58 million post-money. Follow Batts.biz for clear and concise articles on the latest battery business news.
YouTuber Creates Ultra-Compact 156Wh E-Bike Battery Pack
While most e-bike manufacturers focus on maximizing range with ever-larger battery packs, content creator Seth from Berm Peak took the opposite approach, engineering what may be one of the smallest functional e-bike batteries possible. The “Bermacell” pack utilizes just 14 Samsung 18650 cells arranged in series, each rated at 3000mAh, delivering a total capacity of 156Wh at 52V. The minimalist design prioritizes portability over endurance, targeting riders who need just enough power for short recreational rides rather than long-distance touring. Seth’s construction approach was refreshingly straightforward: spot welding the cells in series configuration with an off-the-shelf battery management system, then housing the entire assembly in an oversized 3D-printed case styled after a classic 9V battery. The playful form factor belies the pack’s serious engineering underneath. Real-World Performance Testing To validate the Bermacell’s capabilities, Seth integrated it with a Bimotal e-bike conversion system on his trail bike for testing at Kanuga bike park. The compact pack delivered three full laps with approximately 1,500 feet of total elevation gain—impressive performance considering its minimal capacity. Seth believes a fourth lap would be achievable with more conservative throttle management. For urban riders, a separate test involving a 13-mile round trip to a local coffee shop demonstrated the pack’s viability for short commutes when combined with pedal assistance. Future Iterations Seth plans to push the compact design even further with a sub-100Wh version specifically designed for air travel compliance, opening up new possibilities for cyclists who want to bring e-bike capability on flights without shipping restrictions. This project continues Seth’s track record of innovative e-bike modifications, including his previous work reverse-engineering pay-to-ride e-bike systems. Watch the video here:
