Batteries with Nanotechnology

Using nanotechnology in the manufacture of batteries offers the following benefits:

Increasing the available power from a battery and decreasing the time required to recharge a battery. These benefits are achieved by coating the surface of an electrode with nanoparticles. This increases the surface area of the electrode thereby allowing more current to flow between the electrode and the chemicals inside the battery. This technique could increase the efficiency of hybrid vehicles by significantly reducing the weight of the batteries needed to provide adequate power.
Increasing the shelf life of a battery by using nanomaterials separate liquids in the battery from the solid electrodes when there is no draw on the battery. This separation prevents the low level discharge that occurs in a conventional battery, which increases the shelf life of the battery dramatically.
Reducing the possibility of batteries catching fire by providing less flammable electrode material.

Batteries: Current Nanotechnology Applications

Lithium ion batteries using electrodes with nanoparticles providing more power and shorter recharging time then conventional batteries are available in power tools.

Battery small enough to be implanted in the eye and power artificial retina

Lithium ion batteries with nanoparticle electrodes that meet the safety requirements for electric cars while improving the performance.

Ultra capacitors using nanotubes may do even better than batteries in hybrid cars

Company	Product	Advantages
A123Systems	Lithium-ion battery with the cathode made from nano-phosphate, literature is unclear as to whether this is nanoparticles of phosphate on a substrate or a nano-porous phosphate structure	Higher power, quicker recharge, less combustible than standard lithium-ion batteries
NanoEner Technologies	Electrodes composed of nanoparticles on a substrate for use in batteries	Faster charge and discharge rate than conventional electrodes
Mphase Technologies	Battery with chemicals isolated from electrode by "nanograss" when the battery is not in use	Very long shelf life
Altaire Nanotechnologies	Lithium-ion battery with the anode composed of lithium titanate spindel nanoparticles	Higher power, quicker recharge, less combustible than standard lithium-ion batteries
Naoexa	Lithium-ion battery using nanocomposite electrodes using technology developed at Argonne National Laboratory	Higher power, less combustible than standard lithium-ion batteries
Zpower	Silver-zinc battery using nanoparticles in the silver cathode	Higher power density, low combustibility

Researchers at Stanford University develop battery anodes with silicon nanowires that can increase the capacity of Li-ion batteries. 12/18/07

Researchers at Argonne National Lab develop a nano-crystalline structure for electrodes that increases the charge density of lithium ion batteries. 5/8/07

GM planning to test batteries from A123 Systems for use in plug-in hybrid cars. 01/11/07