It may seem like once every month or two we see another article claiming the next mashup of minerals/chemicals/compounds will somehow yield a dramatic increase in battery life. The articles rave on how the future of battery tech is near and that the technology in question will finally bring batteries up to par with the demands that gadgets and electronics place on them. The current compound combination that is garnering attention is that of Lithium-Sulfur. Much like Lithium-ion, Lithium-Sulfur batteries rely the transfer for electricity from one electrode to another but adds a different twist – the use of nanoscale carbon rods surrounded by sulfur in order to keep the contact between electrodes. Great, another compound combination making the same promises so many other types of battery technologies have claimed. Can it succeed?
This alteration supposedly allows the lithium-sulfur method of energy storage to hoard up to 84% of the theoretical maximum of it’s total capacity. Want some real numbers to chew on? Lithium-ion holds around 227 watt-hours per pound. (500/Kg.) Lithium-sulfur on the other hand ups the storage considerably with the ability to store up to 545 watt-hours per pound (1,200 watt-hours/Kg)! Quite an advantage wouldn’t you say?
If you were hoping to see this tech in batteries within the next year I’m sorry to announce that it won’t happen. Like many of the other up and coming battery technologies that have been discussed in recent years, this particular lithium-sulfur technology is in mid-development and still has some pretty hefty obstacles to overcome. Obstacles such as a rate of energy decrease that is still too high, a still too high risk of sparks (we all know that isn’t good), and the final details surrounding an actual price for the technology. Such hinderances are sure to keep lithium-sulfur batteries at bay for at least another 3-4 years. With the ever increasing demands on gadgets in relation to power and speed, having any type of improvement in battery would sure be great right about now. Wouldn’t it?
Source: Electronista, Gizmag
