New Battery Technology Could Lead to Longer Lasting Smartphones and Electric Cars

A new breakthrough in battery technology could make various electronics more efficient.

A team of researchers from the Battelle Energy Alliance and MIT outlined a new approach to lithium-oxygen batteries that could “greatly improve energy efficiency (and) longevity,” according to a press release.

The research is being led by Ju Li, who published the concept power source, known as a “nanolithia cathode battery” in Nature Energy, a science journal.

Lithium-oxygen batteries are seen as a highly promising technology; they could potentially be 5 to 15 times as efficient as traditional lithium-ion batteries.

They work by drawing in oxygen from outside air to power a chemical reaction. The battery then releases the oxygen back into the atmosphere, according to the paper published in Nature.

But a number of obstacles are keeping the tech from being commonplace, according to Wired Magazine.

For example, lithium-oxygen batteries waste a significant portion of their energy as heat, and tend to wear out fairly quickly. In addition, they require an external and internal air flow system in order to charge the battery, according to MIT.

But the research being done at Battelle has found a way to remedy these shortcomings.

In the paper, Li says that his team’s battery concept could be more efficient and charge faster. Additionally, the team’s battery could have a longer lifespan than lithium-ion batteries due to its resistance to overcharging.

The researchers hope the battery could be used to power long-distance electric vehicles — and could even lead to smartphones that don’t need regular charging.

The team, which also includes members from Argonne National Laboratory and Peking University, hopes to have a practical prototype within a year, and is currently seeking investors, Wired reported.