New silicon-carbon battery technology could seriously upgrade the battery life of popular devices. — AFP Relaxnews
Already tried and tested by several Chinese manufacturers, silicon-carbon battery technology could now be winning over some of the world’s major smartphone makers. And it has a number of advantages.
Conventional lithium-ion batteries feature a graphite anode. Here, this is replaced (or supplemented) by a composite of silicon and carbon. Silicon is able to store far more lithium ions than graphite, thus increasing the battery’s energy density. The addition of carbon helps stabilise the structure and improve electrical conductivity, for greater performance and durability.
This technology offers numerous advantages. By storing more energy in the same volume, it extends the operating times of devices by up to 20% compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
What’s more, this type of battery is faster to charge, for equivalent capacity, which saves time and delivers a better user experience.
Last but not least, the use of silicon and carbon tends to reduce the risk of overheating and therefore promises a longer battery lifespan than with today’s technology.
To date, only a handful of Chinese manufacturers, such as Xiaomi and Honor, have launched smartphones featuring this new technology, with battery capacities of up to 6,500 mAh. In comparison, the top-of-the-range handsets from Apple and Samsung are limited to under 5,000 mAh.
In view of these figures, the world’s two biggest phone sellers could soon take the plunge, even if this represents a major technological challenge. Despite rumours swirling, mainly on Asian websites, no dates or models have yet been officially announced. – AFP Relaxnews
