Eco Factor: Solid-state rechargeable lithium-air battery reduces risk of explosion.
Engineers at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) have developed the first solar-state, rechargeable lithium-air battery that addresses the fire and explosion risks common with lithium-ion batteries.
The research team stated that while lithium-ion batteries are portable and have better energy density than other types of rechargeables, such as nickel cadmium, there have been a number of accidents and a large number of recalls involving lithium-ion batteries.
The newly developed solid-state lithium-ion batteries address this issue, as they don’t have a liquid electrolyte that can corrode and leak. Rather they are based on a solid electrolyte based on a glass-ceramic material, which is very stable, even when in contact with water.
The team has developed and tested the batteries in quarter-size forms suitable for experimentation. The researchers believe that commercially the batteries could be made available in about two years for portable electronic devices and in about eight years for automobiles.
Via: Dayton Daily News
