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AAAAAAAAA-size Li-Ion Cells

Posted by timothy on from the batteries-make-the-world-go-round dept.

Jasin Natael writes "Thought Li-Ion batteries were all the same? Think again. Several universities, under a grant from the US Office of Naval Research, are miniaturizing the anodes and cathodes of Li-Ion batteries to nanoscale, hoping to make more efficient, smaller cells that last longer."

9 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. My $$'s on fuel cells. by jericho4.0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This sounds like more of an incremental improvment rather that the quantum leap that we need. And you'll still need a source of electricity to charge it. I'm still holding out for fuel cells.

    --
    "A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming, is not worth knowing" - Alan Perlis
    1. Re:My $$'s on fuel cells. by danalien · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Just wanted to squeeze in an alternative thought between the "fuel cells" & "batteries" arg[s].

      There are two solutions to this problem/dilema (well actually three, but the third one is to not use your dear laptop [or what you now use your batteries for...so I won't consider this as a valid option]).

      1] Fuel Cells or Batteries
      2] Having/making ultra-low-consumtion appliance.

      My money is on Nr2, case if we reach that marker, one could eventually get rid of the battery [or fuel cell] charging and make them run on solar-power [or something like that, that doesn't cost the user any more operation costs [no more buying gas/electricity]). I mean if; under one day earth gets bombarded by the sun with the equivalent of power that could sustain our need us for one year... why not learn how use that? if it just there, it's like an unexplored gold mine *or something*.


      [Maybe I'm of topic here; but I thought it's just a relevant thought... so be gentle moderators :)]

      --
      I don't claim I know more than I know, and if you know you know more than I know, then by all means, let me know.
  2. Nano Anodes and Cathodes by Buzz_Litebeer · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Thats pretty neat stuff, but what form will it have to take? We know the battery life in the nano, and micro world is neat, but does it help solve problems when it comes to cell phones? I know the article says it would be helpfull in cell phones, but will it merely be a smaller battery, or will the life of the battery be longer? I dont think it explained well how the actual life span of the batteries would be longer, except for one issue of how they would have less area to diffuse over. Could someone explain to me how this makes it last longer in a practicle sense, IE how would a cell phone use it?

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    If you don't vote, you don't matter, so don't waste your time telling me your opinion
    1. Re:Nano Anodes and Cathodes by spencerogden · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well... if an equivelent battery is smaller, then they could just use the origional size and get extra capacity, its not like cell phones need to get smaller until they are implants.

      --

      Spencer Ogden

  3. Uh... by autopr0n · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And you'll still need a source of electricity to charge it. I'm still holding out for fuel cells.

    Why... fuel cells still need to filled. Are you saying you have a more ready supply of methane or hydrogen gas then you do electricity?

    Power outlets exist in almost every man made structure in the industrial world. And in most cars too. I can charge my laptop/cellphone/PDA anywhere. The same can't said about the fuels used in fuel cells.

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    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
    1. Re:Uh... by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The problem is that batteries can't be recharged in 10 seconds. Tanks can be filled that fast. My battery dying wouldn't be nearly as big a problem if I could recharge it in 10 seconds. Plus, if fuel cells became popular, the fuel would quickly become available everywhere.

      --
      main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
    2. Re:Uh... by tap · · Score: 3, Insightful

      For a given battery chemistry, the time it takes to fully charge the battery is relatively constant. Li-ion cells for instance normally take two hours to fully charge. The maximum charge rate for li-ion cells is normally 1C, where C is the capacity of the battery in amp-hours. So if you have a small 600 mAh cell it change take a charge at a max rate of 600 mA, while a larger 1800 mAh cell could be charged at 1.8 amps, but both will take about the same time to charge. NiMH and especially nicad batteries can charged at higher rates, like 3C or more. But still, a one minutes charge time would mean a peak charge rate of more than 60C, a no battery can take that.

  4. Re:well darn by Anonymous+Cowrad · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What about just saying "I don't want to talk to you anymore."?

    Works every time.

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    pants ahoy
  5. Re:Speaking of battery size ... by mythosaz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A batteries? In what alternative universe did you guys find A batteries? Virtually no one makes them today, or B batteries either. The letters are part of a standard for single-cell batteries devised by the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, beginning in the 1920s. (I realize that, strictly speaking, a battery consists of two or more cells, but let's not get picky.) Today the standard sizes range from AAAA to G, and for some reason there's also J, N, and 6. AAA, AA, C, and D were the only sizes that caught on in a big way commercially, but the others haven't totally disappeared. If you pry apart one of those big 6-volt lantern batteries, you'll find four F cells inside.

    http://www.batteryholders.com/ansiref.shtml