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profdant139's avatar
profdant139
Explorer II
Dec 19, 2019

New IBM battery technology??

This stuff is way over my head, but IBM is not known for flights of fancy. High density, easily sourced materials, fast charging, etc. Someday we will get to the energy density of petrochemicals -- if this article is telling the truth, that day is getting a little closer:

Article
  • I do recall the Goodenough article -- he is a Nobel prize winner, by the way. We've got some heavy hitters working on this issue -- not just Elon Musk. Storage is the holy grail of a post-carbon economy.

    But I would just settle for 200 amp hours in a little box at a reasonable price! ;)
  • Trouble with most of this tech is longevity and mass production. Note the advantages given omit those items:

    “Just as promising as this new battery’s composition is its performance potential. In initial tests, it proved it can be optimized to surpass the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries in a number of individual categories including lower costs, faster charging time, higher power and energy density, strong energy efficiency and low flammability.”

    Don't get me wrong, I am very excited if a major improvement can be achieved. Many people are working on batteries.
  • Perhaps you missed the announcement earlier this year that the laboratory of John B. Goodenough (that's really his name, btw), the guy who invented lithium batteries, has developed a solid electrolyte that is expected to make possible completely solid state batteries with 2.5 to 5 times the energy density of current lithium ion batteries, with no fire risk, longer lasting, and makes it possible to use sodium instead of lithium, which, being vastly more abundant and thus much cheaper than lithium, should make those batteries much cheaper to make as well.

    https://youtu.be/g0nA8CfxBqA
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    This is looking... Interesting.. I like the rapid recharge and density would like to see density improved however.