Batteries are omnipresent and the motor of all mobile devices - and unfortunately often a limiting factor: Batteries are one of the biggest weight factors and their relatively long charging times otherwise put mobile devices on the leash of the charging cable for a - too long - time. They are also used everywhere in film as a mobile energy source - be it in cameras, laptops, monitors, lights, drones, gimbals or other equipment. That is why any improvement in this area is also of great importance for film production.
Researchers at Kiel University have developed a silicon-based battery with dramatically better performance than conventional lithium-ion batteries. The energy density of the new silicon anode is up to 10 times higher and the charging process with times of a few minutes is extremely shortened compared to Li-Ion batteries.
PIC1§:Silicon wires
The big problem with the use of silicon up to now was the large expansion of the silicon anode by up to 400% caused by the addition of lithium ions, which often caused the anode to break apart. So far anodes consist of a maximum of 10-15% silicon. Dr. Hansen from Kiel University solves this problem with a special porous structure of silicon (the wires shown above were a preform). Sulphur is used as cathode material for the maximum possible storage capacity.
An additional bonus: Unlike lithium, silicon, the basic material of the new battery, is abundant on earth; it is the second most abundant element on earth and would therefore require significantly less energy to "dig". And: another advantage: In contrast to lithium, silicon is flame-retardant.
Samsung's new battery technology with 
"Graphene Balls" as anode and cathode material, which should enable lithium-ion batteries to be charged in 12 minutes (5 times faster than before) and have a capacity increased by 45% (or the battery can shrink by 45% for the same size). The first batteries are scheduled for market launch in 2019.
Bild zur Newsmeldung:
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