A new silicon battery using nanotechnology can take on conventional Lithium-Ion batteries in the near future.
Stanford researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to reinvent the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power laptops, cell phones, MP3 players and other portable devices. The new version, developed through research led by Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, produces up to 10 times the amount of electricity of existing lithium-ion batteries.
By using nanotechnology, Cui's battery is capable of using silicon in the battery's anode in stead of lithium, without degrading the performance of the battery. Laptops that now run on batteries for two hours could potentially operate for 20 hours with silicon based batteries when using the new nanotechnology.
Cui has filed a patent application, and is considering formation of a company or an agreement with a battery manufacturer. As the process of creating such batteries are well understood, it shouldn't be any problem mass producing the batteries, according to Cui.
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