Recharge Your Batteries In Seconds

Scientists at the University of Illinois have designed a 3-D nanostructure for battery cathodes that allows for ultra-fast charging and discharging, without affecting energy storage capacity, reports Nature Nanotechnology journal. Cellphones and consumer electronics apart, electric cars, medical devices like defibrillators, and various electronic devices used in the military will also benefit from the new battery cathode design. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the Department of Energy supported this work.

A nanostructure is an object of intermediate size between molecular and microscopic structures. Dimensions differentiate various nanostructures. Nanotextured surfaces have one dimension for example, nanotubes have two dimensions on the nanoscale, and spherical nanoparticles are 3-D.

"This system that we have gives you capacitor-like power with battery-like energy. Most capacitors store very little energy. They can release it very fast, but they can't hold much. Most batteries store a reasonably large amount of energy, but they can't provide or receive energy rapidly. This does both," Paul V. Braun, professor of Material Sciences and Engineering, and University Scholar, with the University of Illinois, said in a release issued by the University.