Silicon nanopores can potentially increase the battery capacity of lithium ion batteries by 10 times, a team of researchers at Rice University and Lockheed Martin, US, have discovered.
Lithium ion batteries, the technology utilised in electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster, Nissan LEAF and consumer electronics, could significantly change due to this research – possibly prolonging the charging capacity of electric vehicles utilising the batteries.
Close to completion
Silicon has the strongest theoretical capacity for storing lithium but the researchers believe that their method is not that close to completion – citing swelling and cracking as one current drawback of its use.
Despite these issues, the team believes the material has the potential to increase the performance of lithium ion batteries, which are used in a wide range of commercial, military and aerospace applications.
