High-energy lithium batteries to allow life easier

Although the notebook computer and other electronic equipment in recent years has made considerable progress, but the computer's battery power has not changed. Now, a new nano-technology is expected to change all this progress. The researchers reported that by the tiny silicon whiskers made of lithium-ion batteries can store the equivalent of 10 times that of conventional rechargeable battery power. In principle, this new technology allows notebook computer running a few days in a row; at a charge, can travel hundreds of kilometers of electric vehicles, but this technology in the market prior to the need to overcome some of the key barriers.

The technology is the focus of an increase of positron battery electrode - the anode - can carry electronic. When a rechargeable battery for when a positively charged lithium ions to seize power by providing an electronic, and transfer to the anode. When the battery discharge, lithium-ion will give up the extra electronics, batteries and the devices connected to electricity, at the same time they will be lithium-ion conduction through a gel to the cathode - the negative electrode e - transfer. At present, the anode is constituted by the layer of carbon atoms, each about 6 carbon atoms with a combination of lithium ion. The silicon may have to do better - each a silicon atom with 4 lithium-ion combination. But when the researchers used silicon thin film made of particles, or anode, a large number of lithium atoms from the rotation will be the destruction of these silicon at the same time bring them in line with the following metal substrate separation and ultimately reduce the effectiveness of the battery.

Stanford University materials scientist Yi Cui and his colleagues found that by the same whisker of silicon anode is made of silk to its outstanding performance. The use of a first-rate technology, researchers in a stainless steel substrate on a layer of silicon direct bonding Nami Si. They then loaded a common electrolyte and the electrode at the top through a series of tests to assess the effectiveness of such batteries. The results showed that carbon Nami Si will still be expansion and contraction, but they will not chip out from the base. Cui pointed out that the technology is the key, Nami Si ensure that the shape of the silicon atoms through the lattice to Chengfangshezhuang whiskers and the expansion and contraction, so as to reduce the build-up of tension which eventually led to a solid silicon Nami Si Adhesion to the metal on the substrate. On this basis, Cui's team found that the traditional graphite anode, they anode materials developed by the former to be able to capture 10 times the charge. Cui and his research team at the recent British "- nanotechnology," the magazine's online edition reported on the results of this study.

U.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, materials scientists, battery expert Gerbrand Ceder said: "This a good example of this theory." Ceder noted that manufacturers be able to capture 10 times the charge of the lithium-ion battery is also a need to be able to capture 10 times the charge of the cathode. He stressed that a merger of silicone Nami Si anode battery manufacturers can reduce the weight and size of the anode, the battery in order to increase the number of cathode materials, which will greatly promote the development of lithium batteries. All this may make our lives more easily. (Translated from Qunfang www.science.com, 12 24)