What's New: Charge Batteries 20 Times Faster

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists have developed a way to recharge lithium ion batteries, used in laptops, cell phones, and other devices, in a fraction of the time. The team discovered that lithium ions, which carry electricity in the battery, can move much faster if they are aligned with tunnels accessible from the surface of the battery. A small prototype battery with this technology can be charged in just 5% of the time, or 20 seconds instead of six minutes. The material is not new, just manufactured differently, which means that batteries with this technology could be on the market within a couple of years.

Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 11:26 am CDT

Tell a friend about this news item!

Return to the article list...