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Those batteries have a lower energy density and power than the current li-ions, so you won't be seeing them in a phone, laptop or a car. At the same time they

by c2h5oh 12y ago

Those batteries have a lower energy density and power than the current li-ions, so you won't be seeing them in a phone, laptop or a car. At the same time they are significantly cheaper to make and durable, which might make them a good solution for home energy storage - paired with panels for example.

allworknoplay 12y ago
Where does the article discuss the energy density? I'm skeptical myself based on the number/style of claims they make, but I can't see any details.
- c2h5oh 12y ago
  "Our battery produces about half the voltage of a typical lithium battery," he said. "But improving the cathode material could eventually increase the voltage and energy density. Otherwise, our battery has everything else you'd dream that a battery should have. [..]
  - mark-r 12y ago
    Voltage is not the same as energy density. It's one component of it certainly, but not nearly enough by itself to tell you anything.
- onejoe 12y ago
  The linked article does not provide details. However, Engadget has an article on this that offers this tidbit: "The aluminum-ion cell isn't perfect (yet) as it can only produce about 2 volts, far less than the 3.6V that lithium-ion an muster. Plus aluminum cells only carry 40 watts of electricity per kilogram compared to lithium's 100 to 206 W/kg power density." http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/06/stanfords-battery-charges-in-one-minute/ http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/06/stanfords-battery-charges... Sidenote: I suspect that passage means W-hours per Kg vs. W per Kg because typical Li-ion does have an energy density in the 100-200 W-h/kg range. See the chart in this Nature article: http://www.nature.com/news/the-rechargeable-revolution-a-better-battery-1.14815 http://www.nature.com/news/the-rechargeable-revolution-a-bet...
transfire 12y ago
Even at only half the power I'd want one in my phone. It's easy enough to charge a phone if it only take a few minutes. It's the hours that it currently takes that makes frequent charging intolerable.
- c2h5oh 12y ago
  There are a bunch of options for that with li-ions too. For example Qualcomm claims that 3300mAh battery gets to 60% in 30 minutes with Quick Charge 2.0. Granted, that's not 'a couple of minutes', but still quite amazing.
  - higherpurpose 12y ago
    I think someone did the testing and it's lower than that.

by c2h5oh 12y ago

allworknoplay 12y ago

Where does the article discuss the energy density? I'm skeptical myself based on the number/style of claims they make, but I can't see any details.

c2h5oh 12y ago
"Our battery produces about half the voltage of a typical lithium battery," he said. "But improving the cathode material could eventually increase the voltage and energy density. Otherwise, our battery has everything else you'd dream that a battery should have. [..]
- mark-r 12y ago
  Voltage is not the same as energy density. It's one component of it certainly, but not nearly enough by itself to tell you anything.
onejoe 12y ago
The linked article does not provide details. However, Engadget has an article on this that offers this tidbit: "The aluminum-ion cell isn't perfect (yet) as it can only produce about 2 volts, far less than the 3.6V that lithium-ion an muster. Plus aluminum cells only carry 40 watts of electricity per kilogram compared to lithium's 100 to 206 W/kg power density." http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/06/stanfords-battery-charges-in-one-minute/ http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/06/stanfords-battery-charges... Sidenote: I suspect that passage means W-hours per Kg vs. W per Kg because typical Li-ion does have an energy density in the 100-200 W-h/kg range. See the chart in this Nature article: http://www.nature.com/news/the-rechargeable-revolution-a-better-battery-1.14815 http://www.nature.com/news/the-rechargeable-revolution-a-bet...

transfire 12y ago

Even at only half the power I'd want one in my phone. It's easy enough to charge a phone if it only take a few minutes. It's the hours that it currently takes that makes frequent charging intolerable.

c2h5oh 12y ago
There are a bunch of options for that with li-ions too. For example Qualcomm claims that 3300mAh battery gets to 60% in 30 minutes with Quick Charge 2.0. Granted, that's not 'a couple of minutes', but still quite amazing.
- higherpurpose 12y ago
  I think someone did the testing and it's lower than that.