The discovery of batteries that could last for 400 years, which could revolutionize the world of electronics
PhD student Maya Li Tai has discovered a method that could lead to the creation of batteries that last up to 400 years.
By coating gold nanowires with manganese dioxide and an electrolyte gel similar to Plexiglas, the battery exceeded 200,000 charging cycles in three months.
The battery footprint is revolutionary for consumer electronics and other industries, reducing environmental impacts.
According to Upworthy, there is an old saying that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. In a very remarkable discovery and innovation at the University of California, PhD student Maya Li Tai may have opened the way to the development of laptop and smartphone batteries that could last 400 years. This battery not only means a technological leap, but it will reduce the waste of lithium batteries.
The team of scientists focused on using nanowires for batteries, but they faced a difficult challenge: the wires are so thin and fragile that they deteriorate after many charging cycles. A typical charging cycle is to fully discharge the battery and then fully charge it again.
But Maya Li Tai discovered a revolutionary step by chance when she decided to coat gold nanowires with manganese dioxide and an electrolyte gel similar to Plexiglas. Scientists were amazed when the battery was able to exceed expectations, as the battery continued to operate for more than 200,000 complete cycles over a period of 3 months.
To put this discovery into reality, the current laptop battery can withstand 300-500 charging cycles, and if this new battery happens to be developed and used in electrical devices, the rest of the device’s parts will corrode before the battery.
This discovery opens the door to a range of possibilities not only for consumer electronics, but also for various industries looking for long-lasting energy, especially in an era of energy shortages and waste batteries.