New Anode Material Increases Li-ion Battery Capacity By 30 Percent

With the increasing power and features of new smartphones, battery life has been an issue that manufacturers have yet to address. Now a Japanese group of researchers have developed a new oxide negative-electrode material that can enhance the capacity, lower the cost and increase the life of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The new material is a kind of titanium oxide and can be used to increase the energy density level to 30% higher than lithium titanate (LTO), which is a commonly used oxide negative-electrode material. Regardless of the fancy science behind it, if it allows us to use our smartphones for longer periods of time without having to rely on external battery packs, we’re all for it.