Today in TechYour cell phone battery could soon recharge ten times faster
There's nothing worse than attempting to make an important call on your smartphone and realizing that you have a battery near death. Current lithium-ion battery technology is suitable for most of today's mobile power needs, but it can still sometimes leave us in the lurch. Scientists at Northwestern University may have found a way to change that, allowing phone batteries to remain small, but carry a charge 10 times that of current tech and be recharged in 1/10th of the time it normally takes to juice up your device.
To create the new super batteries, Northwestern researchers took existing lithium-ion designs and modified them. One change involves drilling millions of tiny holes in the super thin materials housed inside each battery. This allows the ions within to move more freely, thereby drastically shortening the charging time. And by holding 10 times the capacity of a standard battery, you can go many days without the need for a power plug.
Unfortunately, this added capacity and charging speed comes at a cost. After about 150 charges, the battery begins to lose its luster. However, even after a full year of consistent use, the new battery technology remains at least 5 times as efficient as current lithium-ion options. The researchers are optimistic that the new tech will catch on, and predict consumer devices may benefit from the innovation within 5 years.
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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