Scientists Create Lifelong-Lasting Battery by Accident

[Exterminator]

Scientists Create Lifelong-Lasting Battery by Accident

A team of scientists from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), have accidentally stumbled over a method of creating batteries using nanowires that can last over 200,000 recharging cycles without breaking down or losing performance.

The quest for a long-lasting battery has given pressing headaches to scientists in laboratories around the world. While conventional battery technology has already reached its peak, researchers have been looking into using nanowires as the primary building structure for the batteries of tomorrow.

Nanowires are microscopic wires, thousands of times thinner than a human hair. Nanowires are very conductive, and because they can be bundled in large numbers in small areas, offer a very large surface for transferring electrons and storing energy.

The problem with nanowires is that they're extremely brittle, and currently don't provide a long battery life, fracturing or degrading in time. Most researchers would agree that the technology has not been explored enough and that there's more to it.

Doctoral student gets its Eureka moment
Casually exploring various nanowire combinations, UCI scientists have discovered that coating gold nanowires in a manganese dioxide shell and then dipping the whole setup in Plexiglas gel allows them to create reliable batteries that can be recharged for over 200,000 times without losing storage capability or cracking under pressure. Previously, nanowire batteries rarely survived 5,000 recharge cycles.

UCI doctoral candidate Mya Le Thai made this breakthrough and, together with her colleagues, published their findings yesterday. The trick was to replace the liquid electrolyte with a gel.

"The coated electrode holds its shape much better, making it a more reliable option," Thai said for UCI's website. "This research proves that a nanowire-based battery electrode can have a long lifetime and that we can make these kinds of batteries a reality."

Depending on the battery's capacity, 200,000 recharge cycles could mean years, if not an entire human's lifetime. The technology is not only limited to pocket size batteries for your kids' toys, but for smartphones, laptops, and why not, electric cars.

Technical details are available in Thai's paper called 100k Cycles and Beyond: Extraordinary Cycle Stability for MnO2 Nanowires Imparted by a Gel Electrolyte, available for download.

 

[DJ Panda]

So the scientist is going to get rich for this right?

 

[hjlbx]

LOL... they will develop 50 year battery and it will cost $1500 US.

 

[hjlbx]

So the scientist is going to get rich for this right?

When scientist uses university or company resources to develop product they will get nothing.

Some companies give out 1 % discovery or flat-rate bonuses.

University or company will own patents.

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

It will be very interesting in the near future to see who jumps at this first to bolster sales.
I bet LG is going to be one of the first if not Samsung.
Thanks exterminator.
PeAcE

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

This is an exciting discovery! I'm just imagining the potential benefits to our environment (and the potential waste that could be eliminated) as well as the numerous energy applications this super battery could revolutionize!
Thank you @exterminator20 for sharing such a bright view into a future that's too often, & easily, viewed as dim.

 

[Deleted member 178]

best battery concept is there

Spoiler: best battery concept

- environment safe (no more endangered species, chemical poisoning, nuclear wasres, etc...)
- reduce over-population
- reduce food consumption

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

best battery concept is there

Spoiler: best battery concept

- environment safe (no more endangered species, chemical poisoning, nuclear wasres, etc...)
- reduce over-population
- reduce food consumption

Well, if I ever fall down The Rabbit Hole, Umbra can always be counted on to have a battery when all the lights go out.

 

[upnorth]

It will be very interesting in the near future to see who jumps at this first to bolster sales. I bet LG is going to be one of the first

Patent US20140144881 - Nanowire manufacturing method

 

[Janl1992l]

Would they use some Tesla technologie or non public technologie batteries would last forever. but companies are to greedy.

 

[Raul90]

best battery concept is there

Spoiler: best battery concept

- environment safe (no more endangered species, chemical poisoning, nuclear wasres, etc...)
- reduce over-population
- reduce food consumption

YEAH The Matrix

 

[upnorth]

Would they use some Tesla technologie or non public technologie batteries would last forever. but companies are to greedy.

The Future of Battery?