The engineers made a breakthrough in the production of batteries based on aluminum

engineers from Stanford University have succeeded in creating a battery based on aluminum. It is charged for a few minutes, can withstand thousands of cycles without degradation of recharge, flexible and inexpensive to manufacture.

Also, such a battery is much safer popular lithium-ion. After drilling the aluminum battery, it not only lights up and does not explode, but continues to work for a while. Also, the battery on the basis of aluminum are much less harm to the environment on disposal.

Engineers have long been eyeing the aluminum as an inexpensive and practical replacement lithium, but until now they could not make the battery voltage is acceptable to give out after a number of charge and discharge cycles. Unlike previous unsuccessful prototypes of aluminum batteries die after hundreds of charge cycles, the battery has withstood experimental laboratory in 7500 cycles without any degradation was. For comparison, a typical lithium-ion battery loses 80% capacity after 600 charge / discharge cycles.

a video that includes the drilling process aluminum battery: i>


For comparison - what would happen if a nail puncture li-ion battery i>


... or just poke it with a knife: i>


The battery consists of an aluminum anode and a graphite cathode immersed in the electrolyte and enclosed in a flexible polymer shell. This combination has been found in experiments substantially randomly. According to the researchers, the prototype produces voltage of about 2 V and has a specific capacity of about 70 mA-h / g.

The specific energy of a typical lithium-ion battery is 100 to 265 Wh / kg. for a new battery, the figure was about 140 Wh / kg. The current density aluminum prototype - 3000 W / kg, which is more than an order of magnitude above those of lithium-ion batteries.

Hongzhi Dai, a professor of chemistry, who participated in the development, talks about his invention: "Our battery produces about half the power than a typical lithium. However, improved cathode material can be increased as the voltage and energy density. All other qualities that can only dream of, she already has: cheap electrodes, safety of use, high-speed charging, flexibility and long life cycle ».

Aluminum battery can be used not only in gadgets (including future flexible devices), but also, for example, in power, in which desperately need cheap batteries that can quickly accumulate and release electrical energy.

Previous options use of aluminum in batteries did not expect them to recharge - in these batteries had to be replaced periodically aluminum plates, which emits its energy resources.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/248656/