More Juice For The Volt?

clipped from gm-volt.com A battery research group out of MIT and led by Dr. Gerbrand Ceder just published remarkable research findings in the journal Nature. The scientists were able to develop a new formulation of lithium iron phosphate that allows for extremely rapid charging, and massive specific power. The novel solution they devised was to create a lithium phosphate glassy surface to coats these tunnels. This glassy surface acts as a speedway of sorts rapidly transporting the lithium ions on and off the cathode. The result was startling. Per the article “extremely high rates can be achieved for the active material: at a 200C rate (corresponding to an 18-s total discharge) more than 100mAh g can still be achieved, and a capacity of 60mAh g is obtained at a 400C rate (9 s to full discharge). Such discharge rates are two orders of magnitude larger than those used in today’s lithium ion batteries.” Besides being able to charge one’s cellphone in seconds, this will have a major impact on electric cars.