Okay, so here’s the thing: this isn’t real yet.
But it soon could be, and it would be amazing.
According to Reuters, scientists South of the Border said they have invented a cheap, long-lasting and flexible battery made from aluminum for use in smartphones that can be charged in as little as one minute.
Seriously.
The researchers said that the new aluminum-ion battery could potentially replace lithium-ion batteries, which are currently used in millions of laptops and mobile phones. Not only would the new batteries be way more convenient, they’d be safer too, as lithium-ion batteries can sometimes burst into flames.
For years, researchers have attempted to develop an aluminum-based battery, aluminum being a relatively inexpensive and lightweight metal with a high charging capacity.
The breakthrough was made accidentally when a team at California’s Stanford University discovered that graphite made a good partner to aluminum. In science talk, the aluminum can be used to make the negatively-charged anode, while graphite provides the material for the positively charged cathode.
A prototype aluminum battery recharged in one minute.
Not only that, it will also keep your iPhone and iPod charged for more than seven times as long as a lithium-ion battery.
On the negative side, it produces half the voltage of a typical lithium battery, which means it doesn’t have the energy density to work with your smartphone – yet, but the scientists believe they will improve output within the next few years.
Here’s hoping.
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