Stanford: Waiting endless hours to charge a smartphone or tablet could soon be a thing of the past, as a new battery made from aluminum promises super-fast charges in less than a minute. Scientists report that the new technology it is greener and safer.
Conventional alkaline batteries are not environmentally friendly, while lithium-ion batteries used in millions of laptops and smartphones can be wrapped in flames and take a long time to recharge.
In an important discovery of his University Stanford, is the first high performance aluminum battery. A battery that is fast charging, long lasting and inexpensive. It is also flexible and can be used in new upcoming folded devices.
However, the only problem it has so far is that it can only get half the voltage of lithium-ion batteries. The Stanford study of the new product published in the journal Nature.
Stanford chemistry professor Hongjie Dai said: "We have developed a rechargeable aluminum battery that can replace existing storage devices, such as non-environmentally friendly alkaline batteries, and lithium-ion batteries, which occasionally catch fire."
"Our new battery will not catch fire, even if you pass a drill through it."
Speech scientists truly showed a mobile phone that charges 100% in just one minute.
Aluminum is cheap, has low flammability and high charging capacity.
Scientists are currently in the process of creating a commercially viable aluminum ion battery. It is difficult for them to find materials that are capable of generating sufficient voltage after repeated charging and discharging cycles.
The aluminum ion battery consists of two electrodes, a negatively charged anode made of aluminum and a positively charged graphite cathode along with an ionic liquid electrolyte in a flexible polymer sheath.
Stanford graduate student Ming Gong added: "The electrolyte is basically a salt that is liquid in temperature room, so it is much safer than lithium-ion batteries which can be a fire hazard.
"In our study, we have a video showing that you can drill the aluminum battery pocket, and it will continue to run for a little longer without catching fire."
Unlike other prototypes, the lithium-ion battery can withstand over 7.500 cycles without any loss of capacity. By comparison, a standard lithium-ion battery lasts about 1.000 charging cycles.
