Engineers at Northwestern University have built a new Lithium ion batteries which are ten times more efficient. These novel batteries could recharge ten times faster and hold a charge ten times larger than current batteries.
Lithium ion batteries are what powers all of our modern mobile technologies, including cell phones, laptops and even electric cars.
One change that they did is poking millions of minuscule holes in the battery, which boosts the battery charging rate. Second thing is what I have also discussed in one of my previous post Li-ion Batteries With Graphene : Quick Recharge, Longer Life. This technique of sandwiching clusters of silicon between the graphene sheets helps the battery to hold the charge for much longer time.
Researchers claim that a mobile phone battery built using the Northwestern techniques would charge from flat in 15 minutes and can power the device up to a week before needing a recharge.
Batteries with this technology is expected to come in the shops within next five years.
This work was described in a paper work of Xin Zhao, Cary M. Hayner, Mayfair C. Kung and Harold H. Kung published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.