Batteries
Hitachi has announced that it has developed a new lithium-ion rechargeable battery with an energy density twice as high as that of the company's existing product.
I think we can all agree modern smartphones are incredibly convenient. They allow us to remain connected to the Internet no matter where we are, and that brings a whole host of features and options. Of course, there’s one significant drawback to this. The more powerful and connected our phones get, the shorter the battery life gets.
It makes sense, after all, because even with larger-capacity batteries in a smartphone, it won’t last any longer if you’re constantly using your device. Sure, when in standby mode most phones can last for days, but let’s be realistic. How many of us actually leave our phones alone for that long?
We need better battery technology, that much is certain.
That’s why new technology from Hitachi Maxell could revolutionize the mobile industry. It developed a new type of lithium-ion battery that has twice the capacity of current tech, and yet it’s no thicker. In short, it means the new tech could double the life of the average smartphone without any significant drawbacks, such as making a device thicker in size.
Introducing Hitachi Maxell’s ULSiON Battery Tech
The new technology has been coined ULSiON, and it will allow Hitachi to create mobile batteries that are small and thin yet offer exceptional capacity.“We will realize compact lithium-ion batteries that have a width of 13mm or less and an energy density twice as high as that of the existing product of the same size,” says Hitachi.
How does it work?
The new technology employs a composite material, which is generated when the silicon-based layer of an electrode is coated with carbon. Usually negative electrode layers made of silicon materials will expand and contract, which is what causes the overall size of the battery to grow or swell. The new technology from Hitachi, however, reduces that pattern by employing much finer silicon particles that are less likely to expand or contract.Related articles
No Impact on Design
The result is that smartphone manufacturers could create devices that have much longer battery lives, without sacrificing minimal design. This is good news indeed, as batteries for high-drain devices tend to be larger in size, which is why you often see more powerful smartphones with less battery life. This is because manufacturers opted to keep the form factor smaller and thinner, instead of equipping a higher-capacity battery.Where this technology could benefit most is the wearable tech market, where devices need to be ultra-thin and reasonable in size. No one wants to wear a brick on their wrist or around their neck, so manufacturers are struggling to offer wearables with decent battery life.
Hitachi’s new technology could allow it to offer smartwatches and fitness trackers that stay charged a week or more at a time. This is one of the biggest hurdles with wearable tech currently, as most smartwatches require you to charge them every night or every other night, which can definitely get ridiculous.
Bigger Phones, Bigger Drains
Plus, smartphone manufacturers have been slowly increasing display sizes over the years. These days, it’s not uncommon to see a 5-inch or larger display on new smartphones, which can certainly increase the load on the battery. It seems crazy that while devices are growing in size — phablets are incredibly popular these days — the general battery life tends to be decreasing.Hitachi’s new technology will certainly change the market for the better, provided it can mass produce it. The company is set to demo the new technology to the public at the 2nd Wearable Expo in Tokyo, Japan, taking place from January 13 to 15.
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