WSU researchers patent longer battery life technology

Researchers at Washington State University say they've found a way to keep lithium batteries charged three times longer. These are the batteries used in laptops, cell phones and electric vehicles.

The key ingredient in the new battery design is tin, as a replacement for carbon, which is more common.

The research is lead by engineering professor Grant Norton. He says the improvements could keep many electronic devices running much longer.

"Or if you thought about this in terms of automotive applications, in principle, then you could drive your car almost three times further as an existing battery. So the performance is encouraging."

Norton is still gathering data for his research and has yet to publish a peer review paper. Even so, WSU has patented the tin and lithium battery design. It could come to market as soon as a year from now.

On the Web:

Professor M. Grant Norton:

http://www.mme.wsu.edu/people/faculty/faculty.html?norton

Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network

Copyright 2012 N3. To see more, visit http://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/.