Who doesn’t dream of a battery that lasts for decades? Thanks to Chinese research, we’re a little closer.
A healthy battery is crucial for every iPhone and Android device, especially since we often use them for years. This applies not only to phones, but also to other electronics and electric cars. It would be ideal if these devices could be charged and discharged hundreds of times without much wear and tear.
Consequently, worldwide efforts are being made to improve batteries and make them more environmentally friendly. For example, researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DlCP) in China have developed a battery that remains almost completely healthy after hundreds of charges.
Thanks to this battery, your Android or iPhone will last for years to come
The researchers examined aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) for their innovative battery. This type seems particularly good at storing sustainable energy from renewable sources, making it much more environmentally friendly.
AOFBs store energy in liquids that contain special molecules. These molecules can absorb and release electrons, which is necessary to charge and use the battery. In fact, these molecules allow the battery to work by storing energy and releasing it when you use the battery.
The concept of the new battery (Image: DICP)
The problem with AOFBs is that they require a special gas layer to prevent ordinary air from touching the liquid in the battery. This is because if ordinary air comes into contact with the liquid, the battery can fail. This often proves challenging in practice.
Researchers from China have developed a clever method to make liquid batteries with new materials that do not need protection from air. This makes it both cheaper and safer to produce the batteries. Perhaps these batteries are the future for iPhones and Android devices.
More than 800 charges
Using these new materials, the researchers created a battery that you can charge and use 850 times. The researchers further improved the battery by making larger “battery stacks” with this new technology. These larger systems had a capacity of about 330 Ah and still held 99.95 percent of their energy after 270 times of charging and use.
The results are promising. The researchers hope this will lead to new batteries that are better for the environment and can better handle energy from renewable sources. Hopefully, the research will lead to new, stable and sustainable batteries.
