Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed a new battery that can last for more than a decade on a single charge.
The rapid growth of technology has brought impressive gadgets like high-end smartphones, smartwatches, health trackers and more. But it has also created a demand for long lasting battery life for these highly-capable smart-gadgets. Wearables such as smartwatches from companies like Pebble can last as much as seven to eight days, but the latest research can put an end to the weekly recharging of these gadgets. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory tested a new battery prototype based on a formula that can improve the battery life by as much as ten years.
Based on the lithium carbon fluoride (CFx) chemical formula, the new batteries are safer than the current ones and their small size can find use in power fitness trackers and wearables with sensors. Most importantly, users will probably never need to charge them as they can go on for more than a decade. But do not get too excited; the technology will not be seen in the market for at least a couple of years.
"This study is proof-of-concept research, but we have been contacted by a private company interested in commercializing the battery. It could become a reality in a few years depending on the commercialization timeline," said researcher Chengdu Liang, the lead author of the paper, according to Computer World.
Comparison Between CFx Battery And A Conventional Lithium Ion Battery
The lithium ion batteries are rechargeable batteries where lithium ions move from negative electrode called the anode to the positive electrode known as cathode during the discharge. The process is reversed when the batteries are charged. These batteries do not hold ions, which results in battery drain.
For the research, ORNL researchers developed a CFx battery and tested its capabilities. They used solid lithium thiophosphate in place of liquid electrolytes used in lithium ion batteries. The solid electrolyte of lithium thiophosphate in the CFx battery can be a conductor of the ions as well as act as a cathode. It can hold and carry the ions, unlike the liquid electrolytes, which boosts the energy of the battery. Basically the CFx battery can act as a storage place for ions.
It took three to four years for the researchers to develop the CFx battery tech and the detailed research paper was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society last week.
