Next-Gen Batteries in Smartphones Could Fully Charge in 5 Minutes

The Achilles heel of modern day lithium ion batteries is the amount of time it takes to fully charge them. However, that might not be the case for too long. Researchers at the University of Cambridge, have identified the ‘speed-limiting” processes involved, and if they can be addressed, devices equipped with the improved batteries could fully charge in just 5 minutes.

The researchers believe that their work will not only help improve existing battery technology but hasten the development of next-generation ones. Despite having high energy densities and longer lifespan compared to older battery tech, lithium-ion ones are more expensive to make and can overheat or explode if abused.

“A better battery is one that can store a lot more energy or one that can charge much faster – ideally both,” said co-author Dr Christoph Schnedermann, from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory. “But to make better batteries out of new materials, and to improve the batteries we’re already using, we need to understand what’s going on inside them.”

The team of researchers at Cambridge developed an optical microscopy technique called interferometric scattering microscopy to study lithium-ion batteries. Conventional methods require the use of synchrotron X-ray or electron microscope techniques. They are supposed to be more time-consuming to operate and expensive to use.

Through the use of the new method, they were able to study the charging and discharging of individual particles of lithium cobalt oxide (often referred to as LCO) by measuring the amount of scattered light. Apparently, the phase boundaries within the LCO particles move and change as lithium ions come in and go out. The movement is different for charging and discharging.

“When charging, the speed depends on how fast the lithium ions can pass through the particles of active material. When discharging, the speed depends on how fast the ions are inserted at the edges. If we can control these two mechanisms, it would enable lithium-ion batteries to charge much faster,” said Dr Akshay Rao from the Cavendish Laboratory, who led the research.

What the team have learnt from LCO can be used to develop new battery materials. They also believe that the high throughput nature of the methodology could help fuel further exploration of the science behind why a battery may fail and how it can be prevented.

Dr. Schnedermann, believes that the research team’s new method of studying batteries can greatly accelerate the ability to understand how batteries work and how we may be able to improve on them to pave the way for the development of next-generation batteries.

The full news release from Cambridge University can be found here.