Portable batteries are the backbone of the technology-dependent world of today. Be it cars or portable gadgets that we rely on so much are all powered by small batteries. Although efficient and zero-emission, batteries take a long time to charge depending on their size. While cellphones and PMPs are charged in a couple of hours, car batteries need a full night of charging. But, just as always, when something needs to be done, MIT scientists seem to be there, ready to save the day, and this issue makes no exception.

They have discovered a new technique to manufacture lithium-ion batteries so that they can be charged incredibly fast. Basically, they used a mix of lithium iron phosphate instead of the traditional lithium cobalt found in most gadgets' batteries. Apart from easing the charging time of batteries, this new material doesn’t degrade with charging and discharging cycles and could lead to smaller and lighter batteries. The technology is fully developed and researchers believe that the work could make it into the marketplace within two or three years.

 

A prototype battery made using the new technique could be charged in less than 20 seconds - in comparison to six minutes with an untreated sample of the material. ”The ability to charge and discharge batteries in a matter of seconds rather than hours may open up new technological applications and induce lifestyle changes,” declared Gerbrand Ceder from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

 

The technology could also usher in a new generation of smaller, lighter batteries that allow phones and handheld batteries to be the size of credit cards. Although the invention will be popular with owners of electronic portable gadgets - who will no longer need to remember to keep them charged up overnight - it could also usher in a new era of electric cars. Thus, bigger batteries for plug in electric cars could charge in just five minutes - compared with about eight hours for existing batteries.

 

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