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Could coffee be the new battery material? 1:21
(CNN Business) - Australian researchers say they developed a battery that could keep a smartphone charged for five days or power an electric car for 1,000 kilometers.
If the technology becomes widely used, it would represent a significant advance in the search for more ecological and efficient energy.
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The team at Monash University in Melbourne says that the lithium and sulfur battery it has created is the "most efficient in the world" and can exceed four times the traditional batteries.
The researchers said they are "on the verge" of marketing innovation and promoted its benefits for the fight against climate change.
Most commercial batteries are lithium-ion, but sulfur and lithium alternatives are attractive because of the higher energy density they have and their ability to power objects for longer.
However, lithium and sulfur batteries usually have a much shorter lifespan. They are used in some airplanes and automobiles, but previous attempts to bring them to mass production have failed, as well as the gradual elimination of lithium-ion batteries.
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According to the battery experts at The Faraday Institution, the widespread use of lithium and sulfur batteries faces “significant obstacles” derived from the “insulating nature” of sulfur and the degradation of the metallic lithium anode.
The team in Australia, whose research was published in the journal Science Advances , reconfigured the design of sulfur cathodes so that they can withstand higher loads without suffering a drop in overall performance.
His work "will revolutionize the Australian vehicle market and provide all Australians with a cleaner and more reliable energy market," said the team's principal investigator, Professor Mainak Majumder, in a press release.
The group, whose work received funds from the Australian government, has patented the new battery and more tests will be conducted this year.
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“This approach not only favors high performance metrics and long cycle life, but is also simple and very low manufacturing, using water-based processes, and can lead to significant reductions in hazardous wastes for the environment, ”said Matthew Hill, who also worked on the team.
However, there are some challenges and limitations associated with technology.
Amy Woodyatt of CNN contributed to this report.
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