Next-gen rechargeable batteries would power up faster
The new batteries have a special surface coating that provides additional pathways for ions to create a current more quickly.
Posted — UpdatedNew technology could shorten the time your rechargeable batteries need to get that boost and increase usefulness of battery-powered gadgets.
Anyone who carries around electronics -- a cell phone, a PDA, a laptop - if familiar with the regular downtime required while those things recharge.
Newer batteries cut that charge time to almost nothing.
In a lithium-ion battery, positively charged ions move across the battery to create a current. It is a slow process, because positive ions need a clear path to move from one side to another.
It's like a highway. The fewer on-ramps there are, the more likely you'll get stuck on side streets. But adding more on-ramps reduces that congestion - and traffic moves much faster.
The new batteries have a special surface coating that provides additional pathways. It could reduce charging time to almost zero. The battery in an electric car could fully charge in a matter of minutes. A laptop battery would take mere seconds.
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.