Technology breakthroughs promise cheaper fuel cells, faster EV recharging
Thu 27 November 2014
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Researchers at Manchester University have discovered a new form of carbon graphene which they say could revolutionise the development of power systems for low carbon cars. Meanwhile, in Singapore, scientists have developed a new battery that can be recharged up to 70 per cent in only 2 minutes. They say the battery will also have a longer lifespan of over 20 years.
A recently discovered form of carbon graphite – the material in pencil lead – allows positively charged hydrogen atoms or protons to pass through it despite being completely impermeable to all other gases, including hydrogen itself.
The Manchester scientists say the implications of the discovery are huge as it could dramatically increase the efficiency of fuel cells, which generate electricity directly from hydrogen.
According to a report in The Independent, the breakthrough raises the prospect of extracting hydrogen fuel from air and burning it as a carbon-free source of energy in a fuel cell to produce electricity and water with no damaging waste products.
Meanwhile, researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have developed a new type of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that can be recharged to 70% in just two minutes—or about 20 times faster than current Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs).
Also unlike conventional Li-ion batteries, the new battery will, they say, also have a longer lifespan of over 20 years.
The University says: “This next generation of lithium-ion batteries will enable EVs to charge 20 times faster than the current technology. With it, electric vehicles will also be able to do away with frequent battery replacements. The new battery will be able to endure more than 10,000 charging cycles—20 times more than the current 500 cycles of today’s batteries.”
According to NTU, the researchers replaced a traditional graphite used for the anode (negative pole) with a new gel material made from “abundant, cheap and safe” titanium dioxide.
They developed a simple method to turn titanium dioxide particles into tiny nanotubes that are a thousand times thinner than the diameter of a human hair. This nanostructure is what helps to speeds up the chemical reactions taking place in the new battery, allowing for superfast charging.
NTU professor Rachid Yazami, described as the co-inventor of the lithium-graphite anode 34 years ago that is used in most lithium-ion batteries today, said the novel scheme represents the “next big leap in battery technology.”
Reports say that the technology also has been licensed to an undisclosed company and it’s expected to hit commercial markets in about two years, according to the university.
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