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EVUKPaul
EVUKPaul
Graphene batteries said to recharge in 10 minutes
R. Colin Johnson
7/15/2010 1:29 PM EDT
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Graphene electrodes used in lithium-ion batteries could reduce recharge times from two hours to about 10 minutes, according to government and Princeton University researchers.
The new graphene-based electrode fabrication process, also developed by researchers at the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has been licensed to Vorbeck Materials Corp. (Jessup, Md.) for commercialization.
The graphene process was developed at PNNL in cooperation with Princeton researcher Ilhan Aksay under a cooperative research and development agreement with Vorbeck. PNNL said it has demonstrated that ultra-thin sheets of grahene can be fabricated on lithium-ion battery electrodes to yeild vastly shorter recharge times.
Vorbeck is developing a commercial process that duplicates PNNL's success in the lab; it has branded its graphene electrode material "Vor-x". Vorbeck separately developed "Vor-ink"--a graphene-based conductive ink licensed from Princeton University that allows electronic circuits to be printed.
Using the new Vor-x material, researchers also hope to increase the storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries without slowing their recharge time--a traditional trade-off with conventional lithium-ion battery technology.
Funding for the battery research was provided by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Technology Commercialization Fund.
The new graphene-based electrode fabrication process, also developed by researchers at the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has been licensed to Vorbeck Materials Corp. (Jessup, Md.) for commercialization.
The graphene process was developed at PNNL in cooperation with Princeton researcher Ilhan Aksay under a cooperative research and development agreement with Vorbeck. PNNL said it has demonstrated that ultra-thin sheets of grahene can be fabricated on lithium-ion battery electrodes to yeild vastly shorter recharge times.
Vorbeck is developing a commercial process that duplicates PNNL's success in the lab; it has branded its graphene electrode material "Vor-x". Vorbeck separately developed "Vor-ink"--a graphene-based conductive ink licensed from Princeton University that allows electronic circuits to be printed.
A PNNL researcher prepares and tests lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicle and other mobile applications. (Source: PNNL)
Using the new Vor-x material, researchers also hope to increase the storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries without slowing their recharge time--a traditional trade-off with conventional lithium-ion battery technology.
Funding for the battery research was provided by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Technology Commercialization Fund.
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george.leopold
7/15/2010 3:39 PM EDT
Battery technology is increasingly becoming a strategic area of energy research. It is significant that DOE and Princeton University are trying to move this technology from the lab to commercialization. Their industrial partner, Vorbeck Materials, is already featuring its graphene-based conductive ink on its Web site.
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R_Colin_Johnson
7/15/2010 4:40 PM EDT
PNNL says the graphene-electrode technology is compatible with both traditional sealed lithium-ion batteries as well as the new "air" variety that take their oxygen in from the air like a fuel cell. Adding graphene electrodes to a lithium-air battery could enable larger capacity cells to nevertheless still charge very quickly. Does anybody know of other efforts to combine lithium-air batteries with graphene electrodes?
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EVUKPaul
1/13/2011 2:03 AM EST
Re graphene and lithium air
Yi Cui at Stanford must surely be
investigating this synergy ie. graphene / lithium air
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EVUKPaul
1/13/2011 2:06 AM EST
Take look at Yi Cui's 2010 research at:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/cui_group/publications.htm#2010
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pixies
7/15/2010 9:41 PM EDT
Graphene was first discovered in 2004. The speed technology moves from lab to product is breathtaking nowadays.
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prabhakar_deosthali
7/16/2010 7:17 AM EDT
Such a reduction in the charging time will be a great boost in promoting EVs, as the battery recharge time will become comparable to time spent in filling gas. Currently the long battery charging time is the most deterring factor in EVs becoimg popular with a normal consumer
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PWithington2
7/16/2010 7:52 AM EDT
What would be the impact on a household electrical system if it were possible to charge a car up in 1/10th the time? Wouldn't that mean 10X current flow? So would that mean that a house would have to purchase some sort of power storage system to be able to supply that current?
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betajet
7/16/2010 11:14 AM EDT
PWithington2: I would think that fast charge would be an option rather than a requirement. Most households would stick to recharging slowly overnight using conventional 100-240VAC to take advantage of off-peak electric rates, plus slow daytime charging using solar arrays. This takes care of 90% or more of driving needs.
The fast charge capability allows drivers to charge quickly at an electric station if far from home. This eliminates the main problems many people have with electric cars: (1) that they'll be stuck far away from home with no way to get back, and (2) they won't be able to use an EV on a long trip.
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george.leopold
7/16/2010 2:50 PM EDT
This from Friday's Washington Post on the key role played by battery technology in the Obama administration's energy strategy:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/14/AR2010071406046.html
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Pistonslap
7/27/2010 5:27 AM EDT
Sorry people- this article was worthless. No technical information or cost information. The only thing it actually tells us is the size of Vorbeck's ego.
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