WHAT with laptops catching fire and MP3 players dying on you, today’s batteries leave a lot to be desired. A material that stores up to 40 per cent more energy and is less likely to overheat could be the answer.
The cathodes in conventional lithium ion batteries are made of lithium cobalt oxide. Adding nickel and manganese raises the amount of energy the battery can store and makes it safer. However, to stop the ingredients clumping together, which slows down charging and discharging, they have to be well mixed – a difficult, expensive process.
The problem was solved by Peter Bruce…
