Batteries that last 5 times longer

                Scientists have discovered a new catalyst material which may lead to cell-phone and car batteries lasting five times longer. Kyeongjae Cho from University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) in the US has found the catalyst materials for lithium-air batteries that jump-start efforts at expanding battery capacity. “There is huge promise in lithium-air batteries. However, despite the aggressive research being done, those promises are not being delivered,” said Cho.

                “So this is very exciting progress. Hopefully, this discovery will revitalize research in this area and create momentum for further development,” he said. Lithium-air (or lithium oxygen) batteries “breathe” oxygen from the air to power the chemical reactions that release electricity, rather than storing and oxidizer internally lithium-ion batteries do.

                Due to this, lithium-air batteries boast and energy density comparable to gasoline – with theoretical energy densities as much as 10 times that of current lithium-ion batteries. For example, at one-fifth the cost of those presently in the market, a lithium-air battery would allow an electric car to drive 640km on a single charge and a mobile phone last a week without recharging.