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One of the biggest challenges in adopting clean energy is finding cost-effective ways to make it available when the wind isn’t blowing, or the sun isn’t shining.

“Solar and wind energy is cheap but storing it, so it is available when you need it, is expensive,” says Taskovic. “A long-lasting battery will make clean energy storage more affordable and make it possible for more people to adopt it. This could be a real gamechanger for the world to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.”

Taskovic performs what she calls “autopsies” on dead batteries where she examines their waste material or “junk.” By adding new salt to one particular kind of battery junk, she has created a breakthrough electrolyte that outperforms the world’s prior best by a mile. The result is a battery that has been running for more that a year and half in an extremely high-temperature environment.

“This is an exciting development,” says Taskovic, who was drawn to the Dahn Lab in 2018 by the opportunity to work with Dr. Dahn, a world-renowned innovator in advanced battery technology.

“We believe that if we can make a battery that can last 40 to 50 years reliably, this will help the world reach its energy goals. That sounds pretty great to me.” Based on results so far, and the Dahn Lab’s collaboration with Tesla, Taskovic is optimistic that the 50-year battery is within reach. But she and the lab are looking to see what else is possible.

“The world has already changed thanks to the clean technology research being done here at Dalhousie,” she says. “We believe we can build on that by making this battery even better and finding more ways to use it for the greater good.”