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Argonne National Laboratory is researching the use of composite materials based on selenium sulfides for electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries. The US Department of Energy’s Advanced Photon Source at Argonne is carrying out the research to increase energy density in batteries for use in electric vehicles.

US demand for primary and secondary batteries is expected to increase 4.2% per year to US$17.1bn in 2017. The motor vehicle market will post the largest increases in dollar terms as motor vehicle production continues to rise following an extended period of decline. 

The first shipments of lithium-ion batteries have left LG Chems’s battery plant in Holland, Michigan earlier this month after three years of setbacks and delays including a significant fine from the US Government.

A Harvard University materials scientist has devised a way to make lithium-ion batteries using a 3-D printer. The technology is still in development stage. The concept is to make inks that are used to print anodes for lithium-ion batteries, the inks use suspended nanoparticles of the desired materials, such as compounds of lithium for batteries and silver for wires.

Panasonic is planning a big increase in lithium-ion battery capacity in 2014 to cope with increased demand for hybrid and electric vehicles.