Hitachi uses Silicon alloy to increase Li-ION battery capacity by 20%

Portable electronics are in store for some longer up-times as Lithium-ion (Li-ION) batteries (the predominant power source technology used today) become increasingly more efficient and longer-lasting. Following on the previous research-breakthrough that yielded ten times greater power storage capacity by replacing a Li-ION power-cell’s Carbon anode with Silicon, Hitachi has announced that they’ve created a lithium-ion batteries with 20% greater power capacity.

Hitachi says that by replacing the Carbon anode with a Silicon alloy (silicon monoxide comprised of silicon and carbon nano-particles) can, in and of itself, increase battery capacity by up to 20%. That’s a significant improvement over current Li-ION capacities, especially considering that no other modifications were made to the battery. Hitachi also plans to bump up battery capacity even higher by replacing the mostly Cobalt-based cathode with a material composed of Cobalt, Magnesium and Nickel.

The new cathode, combined with the new anode should yield ever higher capacities – while the cathode itself should help reduce materials-costs, as costly Cobalt is replaced, in part, with Magnesium.

Hitachi plans to launch their new, higher capacity batteries in 2009. With ever advancing hardware bumping up against battery limitations, a more efficient battery design allowing for longer uptime in cellphones and laptops will be a welcome development.

[Via: TechON]