S. Korean engineers develop technology to make improved lithium batteries

SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean researchers have developed a new
technology that makes lithium batteries 90 percent more energy efficient than
existing products, a local research team said Monday.
The team led by Cho Jae-phil, an applied chemistry professor at Hanyang
University, claimed that the battery life of laptop computers and cellular
phones can be extended eight times longer than conventional batteries with the
new technology.
The team replaced graphite as the main material of the negative electrode with
three-dimensional porous silicon particles made of silica and hydrogen fluoride.
Scientists had already known about silicon as a prospective material to make
re-chargeable batteries, but had made no breakthroughs previously because silicon
tends to expand when in contact with lithium.
In its findings, published in the latest online issue of the Angewante Chemie
journal, the team claimed it was able to overcome that critical shortcoming of
silicon with porous particles.
The team has applied for four basic technology patents related to the battery in
South Korea, the United States and the European Union, and commercial production
could begin in four to five years, said Cho.
He added that work is currently being conducted to merge the technology with
solar panels.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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