Metallic Catalysts Could Increase the Efficiency of Li-Air Batteries Three Fold
The MIT researchers could easily change the balance towards Li-air batteries in the near future just by changing the actual electrode materials. In the paper published in the journal Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, the researchers showed that by changing the carbon electrodes with gold or platinum electrodes as a catalyst, the efficiency of the battery will increase.
New Nano-Hybrid Capacitors Can Store Much More Energy Than Normal Ones
Nippon Chemi-Con Corp has been developing a new type of capacitors called "nano-hybrid capacitor" and plans to launch the first samples on the market by April 2011. These new capacitors generation will be introduced as replacement to the normal electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) and will have an energy density several times higher than that of a EDLC.
Compressed-Air Energy Storage Plants Offering Solution for Excess Wind/Solar Power
In the renewable energy field, wind turbines have played an important step, but today the future of wind energy may come from the underground. The compressed-air energy storage plants could be the solution. Air is pumped into large underground formations where it can be used later to deliver the large amount of energy that it previously received.
Silicon-Carbon Battery Anode Yielding High Efficiency and Capacity
Usually, Li-Ion batteries have carbon (graphite) electrodes, and the performance that we already know, which is not good enough for our cars at this moment. Georgia Institute of Technology researchers developed a new, high-performance anode based on a silicon-carbon nanocomposite material that could well improve the usability of Li-Ion batteries.
Hitachi-Maxell's New Li-Ion Batteries Shown at Rechargeable Battery Expo in Tokyo
The 1st Int'l Rechargeable Battery Expo held in Tokyo at the beginning of March was pleased to announce a lot of battery manufacturers interested in future technologies, in new developments for various industries.
Lithium Sulfur Experimental Batteries Provide 4 Times Capacity of Li-Ion
Based on recent discoveries by University of Waterloo University scientists from Ontario, a team of Stanford researchers developed an electrode that can provide more energy density in lithium-sulfur batteries. Their experiments promise an improvement of 4 times the capacity of a standard lithium-ion battery, if current issues are overcame.
Deutsche Bank Estimates EV Batteries Price Will Drop 50% In Next Decade
People tend to think electric cars will be more expensive and unaffordable than their petrol/diesel relatives. Furthermore, people usually expect high maintenance costs, because of the batteries.
Thermopower Waves: MIT's Invention That Could Change Batteries and Devices Forever
Thermopower waves are a phenomenon that happens when powerful waves of energy shoot through carbon nanotube wires, creating electricity. The researchers from MIT are responsible for this discovery, thus opening a new area of rare energy research.
Pentadyne Seeks Funding for Using Flywheels in Railway System to Save Power
Pentadyne Power, based in Los Angeles, is seeking $15 million in funding to launch a flywheel energy storage technology in electrified railroads, to save the energy consumed when the train leaves the station.
Nanotube Ink-Treated Office Paper Could Make Batteries More Potent
Yi Cui, a researcher from Stanford and his team have succeeded making office paper into an electrode by dipping it into nanotube ink. The resulted dipped paper becomes a strong, flexible and highly conductive material that could be incorporated into lightweight batteries or serving as an electrode in high-energy ultracapacitors. The nanotube-treated paper can store much more energy than classic batteries.
