New battery approaches gasoline energy density

**PA5COR** · 08-13-2011, 06:47 AM

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/0...=sidebyuserrec

You can't buy a lithium-air battery (yet). You've probably never even heard of one. They were only invented 15 years ago, and for now, they're still just laboratory curiosities.
But with the latest lab breakthrough, the lithium-air battery (also known as the lithium-oxygen battery) is nosing up into the energy density region seen in gasoline. If you're thinking battery-powered car, maybe your sights are too low. How does battery-powered airplane sound?

Since lithium is the lightest metal (in weight), any battery using lithium will be light. But since lithium-air batteries also have a light cathode, they are the lightest batteries known.
What's New

Now researchers at MIT have added carbon nanotubes to the cathode, with spectacular results. With a lot more surface area, the cathode can now hold a lot more lithium oxide, which means that the battery can run a lot longer before it needs recharging. The result is four times the energy density of the previous Li-air record holder: the old record of about 600 Watt-hours per kilogram has been upped to about 2500 Wh/kg, in the fully discharged state. This is getting close to the theoretical maximum is 3215 Wh/kg for a discharged lithium-air battery.

Rest: follow the linky.
Might give portable radio a new life ;)

**KC2UGV** · 08-13-2011, 10:44 AM

I thought LiFePo were dense... These things are freaking sweet. Could make e-Bikes really take off.

**n2ize** · 08-13-2011, 10:52 AM

Not to mention longer rc flights.

**kb2vxa** · 08-13-2011, 11:59 AM

Your reactions remind me of the prophet John and the "little book" that was sweet in his mouth but made his stomach bitter. It's a lab curiosity, a revolutionary battery that will change the world... SWEET! OK, when or even if it ever goes into production the price is not going to sit well.

She said well yeah I know but when
We did - there was one thing we weren't
Really thinking of and that's money -
Money changes everything
Money, money changes everything
We think we know what we're doin'
That don't mean a thing
It's all in the past now
Money changes everything

**n2ize** · 08-13-2011, 01:06 PM

LiPo's and LiFePO's were once lab curiosities. Did they change the world ? Yes in many ways they have. Greater power density => Smaller battery size => smaller electronic and mechanical devices that can run for long time periods and outperform their larger predecessors.

**kc7jty** · 08-13-2011, 04:19 PM

Isn't lithium toxic?

**suddenseer** · 08-13-2011, 04:41 PM

I invested a small amount of money in Nevada Lithium mining 2 years ago. This is old news, however the investment has returned 500% so far.

**kc7jty** · 08-13-2011, 06:33 PM

Lithium is wild chit man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94E7ogLHZEA

Ever hear of a hydrogen bomb? How about a lithium bomb? Watch a lithium bomb that was 3x bigger that the designers predicted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5_9Gi7w19Y
Smell those roasting coconuts? That's your balls on fire.

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Castle.html

The use of natural lithium would be important to the ability of the US to rapidly expand its nuclear stockpile during the Cold War arms race.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Castle