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Stanford Develops Fast-Charging, Stable Aluminum Battery

Posted by Soulskill on from the current-events dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Stanford researchers have announced the creation of an aluminum-ion battery that they say will charge quicker, last longer, and be generally safer than common lithium-ion batteries. "Aluminum has long been an attractive material for batteries, mainly because of its low cost, low flammability and high-charge storage capacity. For decades, researchers have tried unsuccessfully to develop a commercially viable aluminum-ion battery. A key challenge has been finding materials capable of producing sufficient voltage after repeated cycles of charging and discharging. ... For the experimental battery, the Stanford team placed the aluminum anode and graphite cathode, along with an ionic liquid electrolyte, inside a flexible, polymer-coated pouch." The researchers' main challenges now are getting the battery to produce a higher voltage and store energy at a higher densities.

6 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Aluminium -- low flammability ?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    If you believe that Aluminium has a low flammability hazard, please check the following links --

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-2714682/Death-toll-rises-75-Chinese-factory-blast.html

    http://www.computerworld.com/article/2501382/apple-mac/apple-confirms-aluminum-dust-caused-chinese-factory-explosions.html

    1. Re:Aluminium -- low flammability ?? by Skidborg · · Score: 4, Informative

      Practically any material can cause terrific explosions when powdered and airborne. Sawdust explosions have reduced more than one lumber mill to ash, but that doesn't mean we stop building houses from wood.

      --
      Supporter of the +1 Over Dramatic mod option. In memory of apk.
    2. Re:Aluminium -- low flammability ?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's most certainly a lower flammability hazard than the Lithium and Magnesium being used in the current generation of batteries.

  2. Tweet today from Elon Musk by dixonpete · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Battery "breakthroughs" need to state power *and* energy density (not the same thing), plus how long they last. They usually fail on energy."

  3. Re:Just what we need... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, our addiction to reproduction is fucking up the planet.

    That addiction is not universal. Advanced economies don't over reproduce. Among indigenous 'muricans, population is at replacement. Most Western European nations are actually declining. The Japanese government is marketing parenthood to their youth because they've basically stopped breeding.

  4. Re:The main challenges... by necro81 · · Score: 3, Informative

    While that's almost perfect as a replacement for lead-acid batteries, it's not enough to replace two AA batteries (2.4v/3v) or one lithium-ion (3.6~3.7v)

    I would argue that the cell voltage is largely irrelevant. If you need to put more cells in series, it doesn't matter much. What matters more is the energy density - if you end up with twice as many cells (to get voltage equivalent to li-ion), but have equal or better energy density (Whr/kg or Whr/L) at equal or better cost, then you still have a win.