Researchers develop “paper” battery that could see use in hybrids
09/21/2007, 9:09 AM
By Drew Johnson
Researchers at upstate New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a battery that very closely resembles paper. The new batteries are made of 90% cellulose — the same plant cells that goes into making news print, photocopier paper and books.
“It’s essentially a regular piece of paper, but it’s made in a very intelligent way,” said Professor Robert Linhardt, one of the co-authors of a paper outlining the discovery.
According to CNN, the paper-thin batteries can be cut, rolled or molded and still function normally. “If you cut the battery in half it would be like cutting a piece of paper in half. It functions no matter how many times you cut it because it is molecularly integrated,” said Linhardt.
And, unlike conventional batteries, the cellulose-derived batteries are non-toxic and won’t freeze because they contain no water. The materials to make these batteries are currently inexpensive but researches have yet to find a way to cheaply mass produce them.
This technology could have a huge impact of the automobile industry — particularly in hybrids. One of the limiting factors of the hybrid car is that its batteries take up a lot of room and limit cargo and passenger space. With this new technology, batteries could now be molded into the door panels, under the headliner or anywhere else in the car, freeing space and making hybrids more functional.
Researchers are optimistic that the technology could be available for automotive use as soon at 2020.
09/21, 10:06 AM
posted by:
Driven
“the cellulose-derived batteries are non-toxic”
If its non-toxic why is the photo of a rubber glove covered hand holding the paper battery?
09/21, 10:07 AM
posted by:
snoboardguy21
Not to mention our iPod nano’s will get even THINNER! wow!
09/21, 10:10 AM
posted by:
Veda
Or cellphones…
09/21, 10:15 AM
posted by:
Fletch
New technology is fascinating, I hope they are successful and can sell this technology all over the world.
My guess is gas will be $10/gal by 2020.
09/21, 10:18 AM
posted by:
Rotman
Nice invention. Would be nice to be able to use my cell phone for a month without charging.
@Driven, posted on September21 at 10:06 am
Probably to protect the paper from acids and fats on the skin.
09/21, 10:28 AM
posted by:
67_L-88
Now that is cool. Hopefully this catches on, and the electric car will no longer be a pipe dream.
09/21, 10:34 AM
posted by:
autonut
… and when it runs out of juice you can start fire with it..
09/21, 11:38 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
yet another fantastic american invention that will change the world. take note japan you can steal this in a couple years
09/21, 11:43 AM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Driven,
We are looking at a lab photo. Of course, that hand is going to be gloved as to not damage the research. Even though microchips are generally non-toxic, I would want to eat one, they are heavily protected against direct physical contact to prevent damage. I would expect consumer Paper batteries to be similarly protected. after all, I bet they are easily damaged by water.
Autonut,
That brings up the question: How will these batteries compare, in terms of fire safety, against Li-Po (Lithium polymer) batteries. Li-Po batteries have an alcohol based ionic transfer medium, which when heated because of high energy transfer, usually during charging but discharging can do it too, can catch fire. The Storage medium produces oxygen during charge or discharge. The battery, itself is the fuel for a fire.
A paper battery would likely be fire-proofed or at least have its ignition temperature raised above 451 degrees Fahrenheit. This could be a marketing disaster waiting to happen.
09/21, 11:58 AM
posted by:
driver54
Good point Rotman, you can fit more batteries to offer longer battery life.
09/21, 11:59 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Hybrids FTL.
09/21, 12:09 PM
posted by:
55amg
i wonder what GM_sales take on this would be
09/21, 12:09 PM
posted by:
short shifter
this is definately going to encourage high performance hybrids… less weight, more power… and not to mention they can place these batteries wherever they want allowing for perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
09/21, 12:13 PM
posted by:
Vipallica
Sounds interesting…
09/21, 12:17 PM
posted by:
Driven
55amg, I have been enjoying reading insightful comments about the articles without GM_Sales off topic input. Please dont give him reason to return & muck up the comments section, again.
09/21, 12:29 PM
posted by:
Aston Martin
Who invented this? Scientists.
Did Al Gore play a part? No.
Were the Liberal Democrats involved? No.
Will it help save the planet? Yes.
Will political ravings save the planet? No.
Point proven.
09/21, 12:52 PM
posted by:
Commodore
Good job Japan! A leader in eco-friendlyness once again
“Americans are dumb. They are fat and lazy and they can’t do anything because they are stupid hillbillies”
09/21, 12:59 PM
posted by:
LP640
its being held by gloves beacuse they dont want to damage it .
this is good progress it will finally make hybrids useful
09/21, 1:10 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
LLN’s “moderators” are becoming hypersensitive with their deletion bullcrap. I made a post discussing how to recharge a hybrid by using the paper battery as toilet paper and they deleted it. The only “bad word” I used was another word for a donkey. They deleted it. Insane how infantile these politically correct monkeys can be.
09/21, 1:41 PM
posted by:
Scott Kempton
Available for use as early as 2020!? That’s 13 years from now! By then, we’ll all be in flying cars using a nuclear power plant that fits in the glove box!
09/21, 1:41 PM
posted by:
AgmLauncher
I don’t get it. Why is it that America always introduces this new sort of technology, but it never makes it into American products to make them better and give them a competitive advantage over other nations.
It makes no sense!
09/21, 2:43 PM
posted by:
Karkat
We invent, other countries take it and make it viable for manufacture and product placement. That has never been our expertise. Its a good world team effort.
09/21, 3:45 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
More like American companies either turn their noses up at it or Foreign companies cut the better deal.
09/21, 3:53 PM
posted by:
LP640
^ AGREED RICARDOHEAD I MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE RETIRED FORD CHIEF AND MY POST WAS DELETED INSTANTLY YET GMLOSER GETS AWAY WITH TALKING CRAP 24/7 TO THE LLN MODERATORS PLEASE HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND STOP DELETING USEFUL COMMENTS
THANKS
09/21, 5:34 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
^dont leave 1115 out lp640
09/21, 6:49 PM
posted by:
Deanster
You idiots, all of you.
Why is there a glove holding it? It’s a photo op, to look “scientific.” Advertising.
09/22, 8:11 AM
posted by:
BLISS
AMAZING DEVELOPMENT
09/22, 9:29 AM
posted by:
AgmLauncher
“We invent, other countries take it and make it viable for manufacture and product placement. That has never been our expertise. Its a good world team effort.”
This isn’t playschool. This is life. Fantasy ideals like “world team effort” “we are all one” are crap. At the end of the day, the US government and US corporations have a duty and obligation to make their home nation prosperous.
The US will turn into a 3rd world country if we don’t start competing with the rest of the world again….
**** team effort. I like my running water………..
09/22, 4:20 PM
posted by:
Aston Martin
^Amazing they didn’t delete that post but got rid of all the others…
09/23, 2:29 PM
posted by:
swamprat
CTS Driver – The Chinese will get it shortly after the Japanese give it to them.
09/24, 6:32 AM
posted by:
gumball
who cares who makes it or distributes it, it’s paper that stores power, duh, scientific breakthrough not an Ipod battery.
09/24, 3:41 PM
posted by:
jobernberger
So – if the battery is in the door panels and headliner, replacing the battery might be somewhat problematic…
The problem with hybrids are the batteries – they don’t last forever, they are heavy, and their performance becomes worse with time. How nice would it be to have a car that becomes slower the longer you have it? Maybe these batteries are different?