Aluminium battery can charge phone in one minute, scientists say

Aluminium battery can charge phone in one minute, scientists say

US scientists hail breakthrough in technology they say could provide safer, more convenient, greener alternative for laptops and mobiles
The researchers said their prototype battery achieved ‘unprecedented charging times’. Photograph: Alamy
Press Association

Tuesday 7 April 2015 07.27 BST Last modified on Tuesday 7 April 2015 16.31 BST


Scientists say they have invented a new battery that could fully charge a smartphone in just one minute.
The researchers have created an aluminium battery which they hope could replace the lithium models commonly found in laptops and mobile phones.

And as well as the “unprecedented charging times” of their aluminium prototype, the team said it was also safer than lithium-ion batteries as it was less prone to catching fire and more environmentally friendly than alkaline models such as AA and AAA.

Publishing the findings in the journal Nature, Hongjie Dai, a professor of chemistry at Stanford University, hailed it as a breakthrough in battery technology that went further than previous attempts using aluminium.
He said: “We have developed a rechargeable aluminium battery that may replace existing storage devices, such as alkaline batteries, which are bad for the environment, and lithium-ion batteries, which occasionally burst into flames. Our new battery won’t catch fire, even if you drill through it.

“Millions of consumers use 1.5-volt AA and AAA batteries. Our rechargeable aluminium battery generates about two volts of electricity. That’s higher than anyone has achieved with aluminium.”

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/07/aluminium-battery-can-charge-phone-in-one-minute-scientists-say