Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are standard on almost all mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable devices. An anode, made of carbon, and a cathode, created of metal-oxide, comprises the Li-ion battery. An electronic circuit is used to balance the stream of positive lithium-ions from the cathode to the anode when charging the battery. Using the battery enables the lithium ions to reverse from the anode to the cathode. This has been the fundamental setup for batteries during the last few years.
The larger the capacity of the anode to store lithium-ions, the longer the battery will be able to power the device.Because this is currently made of carbon, these batteries have basically reached their highest capacity. Improved capacities are always sought, and at present nanowires seem to be the most capable.
Yi Cui is one of the leading researchers in this new field. Research has revealed that silicon has a capability 10 times bigger than carbon. The only dilemma is that silicon has the side-effect of enlarging dramatically when loaded with power. The silicon layers are not able to endure the constant swelling and shrinking that results from usage. After some time the silicon layers break down. Nanotechnology came to the rescue and Yi Cui and his team found a answer to the problem. Using a bird’s nest of ultra-thin nanowires turned out to be the way out..Unlike the silicon layers, the nanowires do not fracture while swelling and shrinking. The reason why this works is still unknown.
Price is still a very big downside. One of these wires is a 1000 times thinner than a human hair and producing them is very pricey. At least the cost should come down over time. The highest boost in size researchers was able to produce was only 4 times that of ordinary batteries. Still a far cry from 10 times, but as the technology improves, so should capacities. This already demonstrates the bright future for nanowire batteries.
The biggest obstacle must still be overcome. The nanowires present excellent improvements for the anode of the battery. The cathode still needs to be enhanced to take full advantage of the silicon’s capabilities.
Nanowire batteries offer the largest gain for users of notebooks, iPods, cell phones and other electronic devices. Nanowire batteries also present outstanding potential for a greener world, with the largest advantage in the field of electric vehicles.
We could see these batteries on the shelves by 2012 and patents have already been filed. The reality of better batteries is nearby. I get really excited simply thinking about the possibility of running a laptop for two days from just one charge, but there is still a lot of work that must be done.
Author Resource:-
SJP Babrevian has been writing online articles for more than 3 years. He writes on various subjects. He also likes building small information websites on different subjects. Come visit his latest websites. The first is about yoga, and especially yoga mats and can be found at http://www.cottonyogamats.webatu.com/. His second latest website is about the little known money making opportunity in Tilapia Fish Farming, that can be found here,
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