From phones to computers to electric cars, batteries can be seen almost everywhere nowadays. Batteries are an extremely common way to power electronic devices and can be very handy since they often provide cordless, portable solutions to power. However, they can also be quite annoying. Battery health often declines over time, and depending on the power of the battery, they sometimes lose power quickly between charges. Experts have been constantly improving battery technology since they were invented, and they continue to do so today.
Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most commonly used batteries today. They can be found in most mobile devices that you use every day. But, these batteries have limitations and may not be able to support the more powerful devices that we will see developed in the future. Here are some exciting new battery technologies that might make an appearance in the future:
NanoBolt Lithium Tungsten Batteries
Researchers at N1 Technologies, Inc have been working on NanoBolt Lithium Tungsten Batteries that are an improvement on current lithium battery technology. The researchers added tungsten and carbon nanotubes in the anode section of the battery that bond to the copper substrate and build up a web-like nano structure. This creates a large surface area for ions to attach to during recharge and discharge cycles. Because of this, the battery can recharge faster and store more energy.
Zinc-manganese oxide batteries
A team based at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been investigating the potential of Zinc-manganese oxide batteries. According to their research, zinc-manganese oxide batteries can create a special chemical conversion reaction that, if controlled, could increase the energy density of batteries without increasing the cost. These batteries could be an alternative to lithium-ion batteries in the future.
Organosilicon electrolyte batteries
Chemistry professors at the University of Wisconson-Madison Robert Hamers and Robert West have been working on a safer way to use Lithium-ion batteries. As of now, Lithium-ion batteries are toxic, flammable, and carry the risk of explosions. With their new organosilicon based solvents that can replace the current carbonate based solvents in Lithium batteries, these batteries could be much safer.
Gold nanowire gel electrolyte batteries
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have also been looking into safer solvent alternatives for Lithium batteries. They have been experimenting with gels, which are not as combustable as liquids. After coating gold nanowires with manganese oxide, then covering them with electrolyte gel and charging the resulting electrode, they found that it was able to go through 200,000 cycles without losing its ability to charge, as opposed to 6,000 cycles in a conventional battery.
TankTwo String Cell™ batteries
Researchers at tech company TankTwo have been looking into alternatives to lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Their String Cell battery contains a collection of small independent self-organizing cells that are coated in a conductive material to allow them to make easy contact with each other. In an electric vehicle, the cells would be swapped for new, recharged cells at a charging station, where the old cells will be recharged at off-peak hours.
Lithium-sulphur batteries
Lithium sulfur batteries could be a lighter, less expensive alternative to lithium-ion batteries. They use sulfur as the positive electrode and metallic lithium as the negative. These batteries have an energy density that is several times higher than lithium-ion batteries, though they do not last nearly as long. Many people support the development of these batteries due to their greater energy storage and cost effectiveness, but there are still many improvements to be made.
Saltwater batteries
A saltwater battery uses a liquid solution of saltwater to capture, store, and discharge electricity. These batteries are safer and easier to manufacture, use, and recycle since they do not use flammable electrolytes. These batteries use sodium to conduct electricity and have a higher energy density than conventional batteries, though they also have a slightly shorter lifespan. They also tend to be bigger and more expensive, so they have not yet been tested for commercial uses.
Solid state batteries
Solid state batteries use solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte such as oxides, glass, or sulfides rather than liquids as used in lithium batteries. These batteries have a higher energy density and a longer lifespan than lithium batteries, and research suggests that these batteries could decrease the carbon footprint of an electric vehicle by about 24%, sometimes even up to 39%. Several car manufacturers are currently testing these batteries in EVs.
The above batteries are just a few of the several types of batteries that are being developed today. As we speak, scientists are working on unheard of types of batteries that will hopefully be able to power the future of technology. Whether it be for computers, mobile devices, electric cars, or all of the above, we are about to start seeing some new types of batteries in the near future.
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