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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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6

Battery Breakthrough Could Recharge Phones in Seconds

Scientists believe super-fast ion transfer will let technology charge ahead

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(Newser) – MIT scientists have developed new battery technology that could potentially recharge a cell phone in seconds and an electric car in minutes, the Boston Globe reports. The researchers, who say the breakthrough could revolutionize technology and even lifestyles, have created a coating that speeds the transfer of ions into and out of rechargable lithium batteries a hundred fold.

The technology could be used for ultra-fast power packs for many devices, and may help speed the development of fully electric cars that can recharge in a reasonable time. The technology has been licensed by a Belgian company, and the scientists believe it could be available in consumer products within a couple of years for prices similar to today's batteries.

MIT scientists believe their new battery technology could someday lead to the creation of fully electric cars that can swiftly recharge.
MIT scientists believe their new battery technology could someday lead to the creation of fully electric cars that can swiftly recharge.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
MIT scientists have developed battery technology they say could charge a cell phone in under 30 seconds.
MIT scientists have developed battery technology they say could charge a cell phone in under 30 seconds.   (Shutter Stock)
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The ability to charge and discharge batteries in a matter of seconds rather than hours may open up new technological applications and induce lifestyle changes. - Dr. Gerbrand Ceder, lead researcher on the battery project

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6 comments
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riffran
Mar 13, 09 4:01 AM CDT
nice....hope it works...they also have a new tech being developed that converts magnetic charge directly to electricity, called "spintronics", that is showing promise Reply
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radnip
Mar 13, 09 5:21 AM CDT
Well, what do you know, we can still innovate. I was starting to believe all those people saying to stay with oil because the other technology wasn't developed yet and therefore ought to be stunted by lack of investment. But look it here... Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Mar 13, 09 5:33 AM CDT
I'm obviously missing something here... what's a U.S. University doing licensing a technology that could significantly change the world we live in and possibly generate millions of American jobs... to a different continent? Is America so busy financing white collar crime that we sell American technology, paid for by Americans, so that the economies of others may benefit? American ingenuity for sale... we no longer know what to do with it. Reply
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anchower
Mar 13, 09 4:29 PM CDT
Dr. Manhattan is at MIT now? Reply
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riffran
Mar 14, 09 1:02 AM CDT
I haunt "science daily", a lot and I hear about similar "breakthroughs" frequently.....but you never see them afterwards in anything Reply
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