So I actually am a geek, and here’s a post to prove it! Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, aided by counterparts at Strathclyde and Newcastle have invented a new type of rechargeable Lithium battery that could discharge energy for up to 8 times longer than current Lithium battery technology. Here’s an explanation from the EPSRC press release (emphasis mine):
The STAIR (St Andrews Air) cell should be cheaper than today’s rechargeables… The new component is made of porous carbon, which is far less expensive than the lithium cobalt oxide it replaces.
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Rechargeable lithium batteries are currently comprised of a graphite negative electrode, an organic electrolyte and lithium cobalt oxide as the positive electrode. Lithium is removed from the [lithium cobalt oxide] on charging and re-inserted on discharge.A demo STAIR cell used in the laboratory to investigate the lithium-air cell concept.
Energy storage is limited by the lithium cobalt oxide electrode… The University of St Andrews design replaces the lithium cobalt oxide electrode with a porous carbon electrode and allows [Lithuim Ions] and [Electrons] in the cell to react with oxygen from the air.
Initial results from the project found a capacity to weight ratio of 1,000 milli-amp / hours per gram of carbon… while recent work has obtained results of up to 4,000 mA/hours/g. Although the two designs work very differently, this equates to an eight-fold increase compared to a standard cobalt oxide battery found in a mobile phone.
Can you imagine a mobile phone with a standby battery life of 14 days? A laptop that runs for 4 days without needing to be plugged in? Better yet, imagine electric cars with travel ranges of nearly 1000 miles. All I have to say is, the sooner, the better.