Researchers are developing new technology that  uses nano-technology to drastically increase the lifespan of batteries.

The key innovation involves using silicon nanowires instead of the usual carbon to store energy in a lithium-ion battery's anode.  Silicon has more than 10 times as much charge capacity as carbon. With this innovation, you could theoretically be running your laptop for 20 to 40 hours straight rather than the typical two to four hours. An electric car could go 400 miles on a charge rather than 40 miles.

For years, engineers have been trying to harness silicon electrodes for battery applications. But the problem with silicon is that its volume bulks up by a factor of four when you add the lithium, and then shrinks by the same factor when power is extracted. That quickly pulverizes an electrode made of silicon film or particles, rendering the battery useless.

To solve this issue, researchers grew nanowires of silicon directly on a stainless-steel plate. Each wire was about 90 nanometers wide, or a thousandth of the width of the typical human hair. When the filaments were filled with lithium-ion power, they thickened up and lengthened into curls, like tiny spongeworms - but they retained their resiliency through dozens of power cycles.

A patent application has been filed for the technology.  With luck, consumers will see these new batteries on the market in three to five years.

Share