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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."

4 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
  2. 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.

    --
    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?" `":" #");}
  3. 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