Microsoft and PNNL Develop New Battery Technology Using AI
The technology, developed using Microsoft's Azure Quantum Elements platform, replaces 70% of lithium in batteries with sodium, potentially addressing several issues with traditional lithium batteries.
- Microsoft, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has developed a new battery technology that replaces 70% of the lithium in traditional batteries with sodium, addressing issues such as limited life on a charge, shrinking capacity over time, subpar performance in extreme temperatures, and risk of catching fire or exploding.
- The new battery technology was developed using Microsoft's Azure Quantum Elements platform, which uses AI and high-performance computing (HPC) resources to accelerate scientific discovery.
- Microsoft's AI screened over 32 million potential materials to identify the lithium-sodium material as worthy of lab synthesis and testing. The process of identifying and testing the new material took about a year.
- The new material could potentially benefit various aspects of modern life that depend on batteries, from smartphones to electric vehicles to the power grid.
- Microsoft views this achievement as a proof of concept for the Azure Quantum Elements platform, which is currently being tested by organizations such as Britain’s Johnson Matthey for designing catalytic converters and hydrogen fuel cells.
PYMNTS 
Interesting Engineering 
Business Insider 
Benzinga 
VentureBeat 
ReadWrite 
CNA 
Microsoft 
The Verge 
New Scientist 
TechCrunch 
Fast Company 
GeekWire 
