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The Note 7 Lesson: Why Lithium Batteries Fail episode artwork

Oct 21, 2026 8 min

The Note 7 Lesson: Why Lithium Batteries Fail

from Professor Alex Volinsky

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In 2016, Professor Alex Volinsky explained the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery fires on Fox 13 News with a balloon analogy. Elena and Marcus revisit that segment and connect it to his own lithium-battery research: germanium anodes that survive 400% swelling, chromium and tungsten oxide anodes, vanadium pentoxide cathodes, and protective cathode coatings. Original 2016 Fox 13 News segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOt8kuklnbI Deep dives in this series: Episode 415 — Ion Beam-Mixed Ge Electrodes for High Capacity Li Rechargeable Batteries: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3234614 Episode 361 — Facile Route for Synthesis of Mesoporous Cr2O3 Sheet as Anode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3233580 Episode 288 — Vanadium Sheets Power Batteries: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3230896 Episode 261 — Tungsten Oxide for Batteries: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3230841 Episode 272 — Nano Tungsten Oxide Anodes: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3230863 Episode 205 — Coating the Cathode: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3226323 Episode 212 — Amorphous Battery Boost: https://rss.com/podcasts/professor-alex-volinsky/3226334

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The Note 7 Lesson: Why Lithium Batteries Fail

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