Jump to  
New Silicon-Air Battery to Have Unlimited Shelf Life

New Silicon-Air Battery to Have Unlimited Shelf Life

by Derek Markham in Technology

Non-stop power from a battery with unlimited shelf life. Sounds like a pipe dream, right? Maybe not. Scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed an eco-friendly silicon-air battery capable of powering devices for thousands of hours before replacement.

Image: ConanilSand

Sand

The batteries are created from silicon and oxygen, are lightweight, and have a high tolerance for both extremely dry conditions and high humidity. The creators say that the new battery could be used for medical applications like hearing aids or diabetic pumps, but also for microelectronics and sensors.

“Silicon-air batteries will be used like the ones already in use today. But by using silicon—a safe, non-toxic, stable and more common material—we can create very lightweight batteries with infinite shelf life and high energy capacity.” – lead researcher Yair Ein-Eli

The built-in cathode of conventional batteries is not present in silicon-air batteries, so significant savings could be realized in both weight and cost. The oxygen in our atmosphere is the cathode in silicon-air batteries and current metal-air batteries (used in hearing aids already). Because silicon and oxygen are the two most abundant elements on our planet, this battery could be a breakthrough in clean energy manufacturing.

The researchers estimate that silicon-air batteries can be made more powerful and rechargeable as well in three or four years, and in ten years, it might be possible to build batteries for electric cars from silicon that can be recycled over and over again.

The research was published in the October 2009 issue of Electrochemistry Communications.

  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • LinkedIn
  • Live
  • MySpace
  • Ping.fm
  • Technorati
  • Tipd
  • Digg
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • FriendFeed
  • PDF
  • RSS

Related Posts:

Posted on Nov 29, 2009

Tags:

batteries, power, silicon-air battery, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology

About the Author

Derek Markham

Derek Markham is a father, writer, and social media butterfly based in New Mexico, with a passion for all things sustainable. For the last ten years, he's worked in the natural foods industry, most recently running a small co-operative grocery store. In his personal time, he loves to ride his bike (an 80s Trek singlespeed), go bouldering and slacklining, and he can usually be found in the middle of about ten different books. You can also find him on other sites including Twitter and Natural Papa.

21 Responses to “New Silicon-Air Battery to Have Unlimited Shelf Life”

  1. Bud


    Nov 30, 2009

    Ah so all we have to do is somehow convert sand into the apparently camera-shy battery you have so vaguely described without the any concern for facts or references. Problem solved. Smooth sailing from here on out!

  2. jon


    Nov 30, 2009

    this is amazing

    too bad it will get snuffed out by big money and politics

    just like all the other great inventions that threaten big money earnings

    wait

    this is not from america

    it may just become a reality!

  3. RedRat


    Nov 30, 2009

    Nah, won’t be adopted because silicone and oxygen is way too plentiful. Until some backward country has a stranglehold on sand then it will be adopted. After all, it is the American Way to be beholden to Middle Eastern Shiekdoms, isn’t it?

  4. e cigarette


    Nov 30, 2009

    These technological leaps in certain fields will advance us TENFOLDS! baby i cant wait.

  5. mark


    Nov 30, 2009

    this will be very interesting and useful

  6. mrcommenter


    Dec 01, 2009

    if they can make it so that type of battery is available in all electronics, it would be awesome. how long a battery last is a big concern for a lot of people and everybody always wants a battery that can last a little bit longer

  7. electronic cigarette


    Jan 06, 2010

    If this is a real possibility, it can be one of the greatest inventions ever!

  8. bob


    Jan 26, 2010

    The problem with these type of batteries is that they do not provide alot of power.

  9. Cep Kaplama


    Feb 13, 2010

    How about the recovery time of these batteries? I mean are they good for camera flashes?

  10. panic


    Feb 17, 2010

    this is a fantastic idea

  11. electronic cigarette


    Feb 19, 2010

    That would be amazing to turn something that is naturally produced in abundance to power for us. Very cool.

  12. E Cigarette


    Feb 25, 2010

    What a great post! Thanks a lot for putting it up.

    Your girl, KatieP

  13. shopalu


    Mar 12, 2010

    If it actually works, then sign me up.

  14. Sally E


    Apr 22, 2010

    Wonderful idea- now lets see it in action….

  15. Sergius


    Jun 05, 2010

    There will be serious quarrel between Better Place and Technion, in Israel, if this battery goes well …

  16. Data Entry Services


    Jun 07, 2010

    it can be one of the greatest inventions ever!

  17. Neil Kornswiet


    Jul 05, 2010

    What a great post! Thanks a lot for putting it up.That’s a great idea i must say!!Greatest invention ever..

  18. Baby Products


    Jul 15, 2010

    It would be awesome. how long a battery last is a big concern for a lot of people and everybody always wants a battery that can last a little bit longer.

  19. Capital Gold Group


    Jul 22, 2010

    I think that’s a great idea..it will be very helpful in conserving unnecessary wastage of batteries..

  20. Trent Jordan


    Jul 27, 2010

    how long a battery last is a big concern for a lot of people and everybody always wants a battery that can last a little bit longer

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. [...] — and push out GPS makers as a result? Microsoft: Project Natal Could Replace Your TV Remote New Silicon-Air Battery to Have Unlimited Shelf Life Prototype contact lenses powered by radio waves can be used for heads up [...]

Leave a Reply