Long-life rechargeable batteries

Graeme · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:56 am Post subject: Long-life rechargeable batteries

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new metal alloy that could greatly improve the performance of rechargeable batteries for portable electronic devices and electric and hybrid electric cars.

Composed of lanthanum, nickel, and tin, "this new alloy is inexpensive and relatively environmentally benign," said Reilly, the team leader.

http://www.pnl.gov/energyscience/01-02/ws.htm

Comments anyone, The Toecutter?

DriveElectric · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 639

Good article. This would help extend the range/efficiency of the Plug-in Hybrids and regular Hybrids. It should also make batteries cheaper and longer lasting.

Those damn "techno-gods" went and screwed us again. Why can't they all just stop inventing useful stuff and let us crash? Don't the techno-gods realize that we would be better off if we just stop learning new things and just wait for a (hopefully) painless death?

skiwi

Graeme · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:53 am Post subject:

Good point skiwi. I am hoping that someone who is working in the field could tell me, like The Toecutter. If you like, you could contact Mr Reilly yourself and ask him. His email address is at the bottom of the article

FoxV · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:59 am Post subject:

they also don't state capacity or price, just saying they're cheaper and better Evil or Very Mad

.

when it comes to low cost high power recharegables, I have yet to see anything that compares to these (and aparently they're ready for purchase)

Cr-F-Li batteries: twice the power, quarter(?) the weight and a tenth the cost of NimH.

Read an article on the Tzero that says it gets 300mi on them (sorry can't find the article again).
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Angry yet?

Devil · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:05 am Post subject:

Lanthanum is not exactly cheap(>$100/kg). It is relatively abundant but little is extracted. However, it is toxic and if the bettery tends to disintegrate, finely-divided toxic powders are not desirable. The reversible hydrogen-absorbing properties have been known for a long time and is very exothermic, which is why the metal is mechanically unstable over several cycles. It's biggest use is in optical glasses.

I have a gut feeling that this proposed battery is more a curiosity than a practical item, ready for mass-production.
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Devil

Zentric · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 14, 2005 Posts: 730

ohanian · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 1087

I'm looking forward to this for my new laptop battery.

MarkR · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 3:30 pm Post subject:

Lanthanum is already a key part of NiMH batteries, and has been for years.

A NiMH battery consists of 2 metal electrodes - one made of nickel, and one made of an special alloy of metals. The alloy absorbs hydrogen gas produced during charging and holds it safely, and allows it to be consumed during discharge.

There are a number of different alloys in generaly use, but as far as I'm aware all use Lanthanum to some extent.

FoxV · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:02 pm Post subject:

Caoimhan · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 562

Those Cr-F-Li batteries look good!

And you can order 48 V 200 Ah battery packs, too! No ChevronTexaco blocking patent!

If I'm reading this right, we're talking about 2x the energy density of NiMH by volume and 10x the energy density by mass! (That is the most exciting, by the way! Much of the problem with BEVs is the weight of batteries. Using this in an automotive application will be great, because of the reduced battery weight).

And all this at the same cost per Watt as lead acid!!!?? Fantastic!

I wish we had more specs on these.

Graeme · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:13 pm Post subject:

Hi Greame,

I am sorry to say that we have made no further progress on
batteries since funding for that program stopped over 3 years ago.

Regards, Jim Reilly

James J. Reilly
Department of Energy Science and Technology
Building 815
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton NY 11973-5000
Phone 1-631-344-4502
FAX 1-631-344-2887

DriveElectric · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 639

The_Toecutter · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 18, 2005 Posts: 1736