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Lithium cells take salt to extend life

Imide live longer

Li-ion battery technology looks set to be given a new lease of life with the emergence of an improved electrolyte process that promises increased heat tolerance and a significantly longer lifespan.

Li-Imide

Today's Li-ion batteries have limited lifespans thanks to the build up of crystal deposits within the electrolyte that hinder the movement of charge carrying lithium ions.

Acids in the electrolyte can also eat away the cathode, which is commonly made from oxides of manganese, nickel, cobalt or iron.

The Lithium-Imide batteries from Leyden Energy use a patented salt in the electrolytes that doesn't get as affected by heat or moisture. Instead of the traditional materials, it throws in a conductive graphitic foil for its cathode.

Technicals aside, this apparently means batteries last much longer, can be used in environments with extreme temperatures and have over 1000 charge cycles, losing less than 20 per cent of their charging capacity over a three year life span.

To put that into perspective, current Li-Ion batteries can lose up to 50 per cent capacity within just 500 charge cycles.

Leyden Energy's Li-Imide batteries are available now and have already been used to boost the battery life of electric motorcycles. The company says the batteries are ideally suited for consumer electronics, other electric vehicles and grid storage product industries. ®

Place your bets....

....as to how long this cell tech will take to get to the UK.

Even if we invent it the UK gets it last.

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They missed out the 1 year self destruct timer

Half the point of a laptop is to make customers buy a replacement battery with a 500% profit margin.

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@illiad

The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) laptop battery is one of these.

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Never

"""and when are they going to have AA/AAA sizes to power other consumer kit?"""

Short answer: Never.

Long answer: Cell voltage depends on the chemicals inside the battery. Your standard Alkaline battery runs at 1.5V, and a rechargeable NiCd or NiMH will do 1.2V - close enough. Unfortunately most lithium-ion batteries produce around 4V per cell, and I imagine that lots of consumer electronics which expect 3V would not get along well on 8V. Not for long, in any case.

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Re : Patented salt?

One patents a use : the actual chemical compound is an example that is suitable for the use.

Well-known salts like sodium chloride can be included in a patent if a new use is found.

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