Here's how a lithium-ion battery degrades over time

Use a gadget with a lithium-ion battery inside and you'll eventually learn that these power packs decay once you've cycled them enough times. But have you ever wanted to see direct evidence of why they have a limited lifespan? The Department of Energy is happy to oblige. It developed a special device that, when placed inside an electron microscope, lets it take nanoscale pictures of lithium-ion cells as they drain and charge. As you can see above, lithium (the black fluff in these photos) temporarily deposits on electrodes during each cycle, but doesn't completely dissolve. The more you use a battery, the more permanent deposits you get and the less capacity you have.

The extreme close-ups aren't just for show. Researchers want to use this nano-sized microscopy to determine whether or not new battery technology works as planned -- they can experiment with new electrodes and electrolytes to see what lasts longer or runs safely. If your next phone lasts a year or two longer before its energy source conks out, you'll know who to thank.