Batteries are an assembly that directly converts energy generated by chemical reactions to electrical energy. It is characterized by a steady voltage, a steady current, a steady supply of electricity over a long period of time, minimal external influence, simple structure, ease of carrying, ease of charge, stability of performance and reliability, and many advantages for modern social life。
In 1800, italian scientists (volta) exposed different metals to electrolytic fluids into volta piles, considered the first type of power source in human history. Lead-acid batteries, zinc-manganese dioxide dry batteries with nh4cl as electrolyte, cadmium-nickel batteries, iron-nickel deposits, alkaline zinc-manganese batteries and lithium ion batteries were subsequently invented。
As the subject of the samsung note 7 explosion continues to ferment, this once behind-the-scenes power of batteries is once again our focus. Do we have to spend a long time with lithium batteries that are near the limit of performance? The answer is certainly no. In fact, we have a lot of new batteries waiting to break the pattern. Now let's take a joint inventory of new battery technologies。
1. Nationally produced superb batteries
In recent days, ultimate power technology (tientsin) ltd. Has demonstrated a super-cell that can be described as “terror” with a continuation and recharge capability, filled with electricity for only three to five minutes at a time。
As we can see from the map, batteries are designed in cylindrical form, in a full row, which ensures that there is a gap in the middle of each battery that allows for heat dispersion。
Mr. Wei, chairman of the supreme power board, described the use of this superb battery mainly in buses and in cranes where containers were picked up at the docks. An electric bus required 297 batteries。
“our batteries are nickel-hydrogen batteries, which, although not as light as lithium batteries in size and weight, are definitely much better than lithium batteries in terms of safety and recharge capacity.”
It is understood that, at constant temperature of 20-40°c, supercell batteries are charged at three to five minutes at a time, with a lifetime of five to eight years. In a hybrid bus, every time a vehicle brakes, a super cell can recover energy, i. E. Automatically charge. With the use of super-cells, it is estimated that the fuel savings of a hybrid bus could reach approximately 40 per cent。
In addition, batteries are safer than lithium batteries, and supercells have undergone a series of experiments such as needle puncture, squeeze, heat, crash, etc., and are not as easily explosive as lithium batteries。
2 honda's commercial magnesium battery
In recent days, honda vehicles have worked with a research and development team to develop the first magnesium chargeable battery in the world that can be applied in practice. The cost of magnesium is known to be 96 per cent lower than the cost of lithium, in addition to the longer duration of the cruise, and japanese media reports indicate that new batteries may become subversive products and that, with the installation of new batteries, smartphones and other equipment can be charged for longer periods at a time。
It was reported that the r & d was led by the saitama industrial technology center, japan, and that the honda r & d team assessed the feasibility of batteries in the light market. The developers expect magnesium batteries to be commercially available in smart phones and other portable devices at the beginning. Magnesium battery developers want to sell their products by 2018. Honda and the saitec team will display batteries at next month's chiba (near tokyo, japan) scientific conference。
It is understood that researchers experience the same difficulties in using magnesium in rechargeable batteries, and that the recharge performance of magnesium is rapidly degraded during recharge and discharge. As a result, researchers have developed a new material oxidation, which is applied to the positive poles, thus making it easier for ions to move between oxidation and magnesium negative poles. Oxygen oxide can increase the number of charges to magnesium to prevent recession. To improve safety, researchers have added an organic substance that can reduce the risk of magnesium batteries setting fire。
3 lithium sulphur batteries
In recent days, the integrated institute of industrial technology of japan has announced that it has developed a lithium sulphur battery with the university of tsukuba to achieve long-term stable discharge cycle characteristics through the use of metal organic skeletons as cell diaphragms. It was described that after 1,500 circulation tests were conducted at 1c current density (the current value at the end of the discharge after a constant discharge of one hour), the lithium sulphur cell could still maintain a recharge capacity of up to 900 mah/g。
Lithium sulfur, which uses sulphur as an orthodox lithium cell, has a high positive capacity (theoretic value is 1675 mah/g) and is expected as a new generation of batteries. Lithium sulphur batteries were used when solar aircraft first sailed in 2008, and the photovoltaic panels on solar aircraft provided only flight capacity during the day and their lithium sulphur batteries were charged to maintain the power required for night flights。
4. Solid lithium batteries
The main difference between solid lithium batteries and ordinary lithium ion batteries is that it replaces traditional organic electrolyte with solid electrolyte. Traditional lithium ion charging batteries using organic electrolyte are at risk of spontaneous combustion or even explosion due to the potential for electrolytic fluid fever during abnormalities such as overcharge and internal short circuits. Solid-state lithium batteries, using solid electrolyte, not only improved significantly in terms of safety, but also in terms of useful life and energy density。
The absence of liquids in solid lithium batteries has eliminated any fluid leakage, reduced volume and weight compared to traditional lithium batteries, and increased adaptive capacity, which have the advantage of enabling solid lithium batteries to be used in storage and new energy vehicles. The scientific community and industry are currently developing and producing solid lithium batteries as the most promising new generation of battery products。
5. New liquid-flow batteries
Liquid-flow batteries are much larger than charged batteries that are routinely used, because they differ in form and function from common lithium ion batteries. In the liquid-flow cell unit, the liquid electrolyte circulates in two containers, which are separated by a thin film. The charge transfer occurs when the ion crosses the thin membrane, and the entire process is similar to that of electricity generation in hydrogen fuel cells. Liquid-flow batteries are more secure than lithium ion batteries and, even if placed over a long period of time, they do not run out of electricity and are therefore well suited to store renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, etc。
Researchers at the pacific northwest national laboratory (pnnl) in the united states have developed a completely new organic fluid battery using low-cost and sustainable synthetic molecules, with production costs around 60 per cent lower than those of the usual whole-blown liquid battery, which also has a significant advantage in the field of storage。
6. Liquid metal batteries
Liquid metal batteries are oxidized by liquid metals to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The liquid state of the metal is the characteristic of the cell, using liquid fluidity, the high-multiplier chargeability of the liquid metal cell and the amplificationability of the battery system, which also allows the liquid metal cell to satisfy the dual applications of energy and power, with wide application prospects in large-scale storage。
A team of researchers from mit developed a new, fully liquid metal battery system, which is inexpensive and has a long useful life. According to the research team, this device allows renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy to compete with traditional energy sources。
7. Leaf green batteries
A team of researchers at the university of maryland recently developed a new, inexpensive material that will act as a negative pole on a new generation of batteries. In the experiment, the team found that the carbon-based structure of the oak leaves would break down after heating to 1,000 degrees celsius and that the remaining material would then be able to accommodate electrolyte. The team is currently testing other natural materials, including peat and banana peels。
Quick-charging graphite batteries
It is well known that the lifetime of batteries will gradually decrease as the number of recharges increases, while researchers at swift university of technology in australia are trying to address this problem. They have developed new graphite batteries, which not only have super-fast capacity (several seconds) but also have extraordinary durability, with research and development staff offering lifetimes. The use of graphite material overcomes all the shortcomings of traditional batteries, while the product is very environmentally friendly and cheap。
Batteries made of sugar
The virginia polytechnic team developed a sugar-based battery, which has the advantage of a super-extension capability. The researchers separated the sugar from the malt glucose, which is the energy source of the new battery. When malt glucose is exposed to air, batteries release electrons to generate electricity. As sugar is cheap and large in stock, the cost of new batteries is low and most importantly it has degradable properties。
10, not bad nanoline batteries
The battery was discovered by the university of california researchers, and it made traditional lithium batteries useless. Researchers produce nanolines from gold and then combine them with new materials, which combine to significantly increase battery recharge, while battery performance does not decline as the number of chargers increases。
11. Self-destruct batteries
Self-destruct batteries are not oriented towards the mass market, but they are visible in special areas and overcome the previous one-time battery contamination of the environment. The battery was developed by the state university of iowa and was used primarily for military purposes and could be detonated with light, heat or liquid. In addition, the detonation does not contaminate the water body even if it enters the water。
12. Edible salt water batteries
The battery is a perfect concept of environmental protection, and in order to be known as its own battery, aquion energy's witwicky actually ate a piece of the battery. The components of this battery are made of biological derivatives, which may be dust, cotton, carbon or salt water prior to transformation. However, this battery is not intended for mobile equipment, but for “big business”, such as running a household or company back-up power supply, which is provided by environmentally friendly wind or solar energy。
Summary
Because lithium ion batteries also have significant bottlenecks in their utility, such as energy density, safety and cost. It is believed that, with the development of new technologies, new batteries will continue to compete with lithium ion batteries in the future. Of course, the competition for new and old batteries may take some time, but in the future, new battery technologies will bring safer use experiences at lower cost。
