Jelly batteries: Safer, cheaper, smaller, more powerful

From:
BBC

By Hamish Pritchard Science Reporter

Lithium jelly battery (Credit: I.Ward/U of Leeds)

The new lithium jelly battery is tougher than the rest

A new polymer jelly could be the next big step forward for lithium batteries.

The jelly replaces the volatile and hazardous liquid electrolyte currently used in most lithium batteries.

Researchers from the University of Leeds hope their development leads to smaller, cheaper and safer gadgets.

Once on the market, the lithium jelly batteries could allow lighter laptop computers, and more efficient electric cars.

In 2006, Dell recalled four million laptop batteries because of concerns that they might catch fire. Dell replaced them with batteries that used lower-performance electrodes, but these batteries were significantly larger.

Battery size still dictates the size and weight of most laptops, say the developers of the new battery.

Electronics manufacturer Apple got around the safety problem for their lightweight laptops with a solid polymer electrolyte, but in doing so, the power output of the computers suffered.

Overheating is also an issue for electric cars. Developers have had to use reinforced, steel-clad battery housings, multiple fuses and circuits to protect the battery during charging. All of these contribute to the cost and weight, and hence efficiency, of electric cars.

Thermal runaway

The newly developed jelly batteries should prevent "thermal runaway", during which batteries can reach hundreds of degrees and catch fire.

The Leeds-based researchers are promising that their jelly batteries are as safe as polymer batteries, perform like liquid-filled batteries, but are 10 to 20% the price of either.

The secret to their success lies in blending a rubber-like polymer with a conductive, liquid electrolyte into a thin, flexible film of gel that sits between the battery electrodes.

"The polymer gel looks like a solid film, but it actually contains about 70% liquid electrolyte," explained the study's lead author, Professor Ian Ward from the University of Leeds.

"The remarkable thing is that we can make the separation between the solid and liquid phase at the point that it hits the electrodes.

"Safety is of paramount importance in lithium batteries. Conventional lithium batteries use electrolytes based on organic liquids; this is what you see burning in pictures of lithium batteries that catch fire. Replacing liquid electrolytes by a polymer or gel electrolyte should improve safety and lead to an all-solid-state cell," said Professor Peter Bruce from the University of St Andrews, who was not involved in the study.

Science & Technology :: 547 Views

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Our newsletter is released only to notify you about the exclusive stories on the site, exclusive leads on investigations and alerts on projects like video documentaries released by New World Order Report

Email Address:

RADIO ARCHIVE

Click here to read Jonathan Elinoff's bio

Latest radio interviews:

4/29/2012 11AM - Jonathan Elinoff joins Craig Silvermann on the Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver's 850KOA to discuss the Pat Sullivan story, confession and newly released information

4/27/2012 6AM - Jonathan Elinoff a freelance videographer and investigator who broke the Pat Sullivan meth for sex story is in studio with Peter and Julie Hayden investigative journalist for Fox 31 joins Peter and Jonathan to discuss the ugly Pat Sullivan story. Is Pat Sullivan a smaller piece in a larger puzzle of deviant sexual corruption?

4/27/2012 7AM - The show continues to heat up this hour; Bryan Maass of CBS 4 News joins the show to provide his take on the Pat Sullivan interrogation tape. What did Pat Sullivan admit to and what accusations could be corroborated. Why did the District Attorneys decide to proceed with a plea deal instead of a trial? Julie Hayden, Jonathan Elinoff, Bryan Maass and Peter Boyles discuss what is true, what is just and did Pat receive a sweetheart deal, there is contention and disagreement about the Sullivan interrogation tape and the four engage in great discourse and discussion.

4/27/2012 8AM - Peter opens up the show to calls this hour and the lines light up with many listeners weighing in on the Pat Sullivan story. This hour has many voices, views and opinions and discussion between Peter, Jonathan and callers. What do you think about the sentencing that former Arapahoe County Sherriff Pat Sullivan received for his sex for meth scandal?

4/6/2012 6AM - Peter Boyles Show - Jonathan Elinoff the investigative reporter who was instrumental in breaking the Pat Sullivan meth for sex scandal joins Peter for the full hour to discuss his investigation into the dark world of drugs and male prostitution. Jonathan and Peter delve into the egregious story of sex, drugs, coercion, abuse of power and possible murder.

4/6/2012 8AM - Investigative reporter for Fox 31 Julie Hayden joins the show and John Elinoff returns to discuss the Pat Sullivan story and the possibility of a connection between Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold of the Columbine massacre. The Sullivan Story is sure to continue and seems to get stranger and more deviant.

4/6/2012 9AM - Tom Martino addresses a caller about the alleged sex trafficking that was observed in the Sullivan investigation at the start of the show...

4/4/2012 8AM - Peter Boyles Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff and Tom Martino about Pat Sullivan Meth for Sex Scandal

4/4/2012 9AM - Tom Martino continues the Peter Boyles Interview with Jonathan Elinoff and Tom Martino about Pat Sullivan Meth for Sex Scandal

4/4/2012 3PM - Caplis and Silverman Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff about the Pat Sullivan Meth for Sex Scandal

2/2/2012 3PM - Jonathan Elinoff interviewed on KGNU in Boulder and Denver Colorado about his investigation into former Sheriff Pat Sullivan in the "Meth for Sex" scandal, with host Shareef Aleem

12/16/2011 8AM - Peter Boyles Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff and Tom Martino with release of info

12/16/2011 7AM - Peter Boyles Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff and Tom Martino with release of info

12/2/2011 9AM - Tom Martino & The Troubleshooter Network Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

12/1/2011 3PM - Caplis and Silverman Radio Show Interviews with release of info

12/1/2011 10AM - Tom Martino & The Troubleshooter Network Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

12/1/2011 9AM - Tom Martino & The Troubleshooter Network Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

12/1/2011 - 8AM - Peter Boyles Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

11/30/2011 5PM - Caplis and Silverman Radio Show Interviews with release of info

11/30/2011 4PM - Caplis and Silverman Radio Show Interviews with release of info

11/30/2011 11AM - Tom Martino & The Troubleshooter Network Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

11/30/2011 10AM - Tom Martino & The Troubleshooter Network Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

11/30/2011 9AM - Tom Martino & The Troubleshooter Network Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

11/30/2011 8AM - Peter Boyles Radio Show Interviews Jonathan Elinoff with release of info

11/30/2011 - Truth Jihad Radio with Kevin Barrett interviews Jonathan Elinoff on the following up with the now breaking story of Pat Sullivan and the scandal related to it

11/16/2011 - Truth Jihad Radio with Kevin Barrett interviews Jonathan Elinoff on the first breaking story of Pat Sullivan and the scandal related to it

9/22/2011 - Tom Martino Show with Special Guest Jonathan Elinoff: Discussion about underground facility at D.I.A.

9/8/2011 - Tom Martino Show with Special Guest Jonathan Elinoff: Tom Martino wakes up to 9/11

9/8/2011 - Peter Boyles Show with Special Guest Jonathan Elinoff: Discussion about the Core of Corruption sequels as well as 9/11 in general and Elinoff's research on it

1/27/2011 - WKRP with Host Rob McNealy with Guest Jonathan Elinoff, Editor of New World Order Report. Click here for the show information and bio Click here for the 1/27/2011 Show

To listen to any other radio interviews or archived radio shows, check our Archives section or click here.

SUPPORT US

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

New World Order Report is proud to offer our award winning documentary, Core of Corruption: In the Shadows. Click the ad below to order the DVD

Watch Core Of Corruption: In the Shadows for FREE Below: