Super-Slim Kevlar Layers Promising Thinner and Safer Batteries

We do have scientists who are working towards building batteries that would last longer but somewhere down the line, even the thickness matters. Besides thickness, attention must be given to the safety factors as well and now with the University of Michigan, onboard, we do have a reason to rejoice.

Lithium-Ion batteries have evolved over years and with several innovative prospects in hand; we might soon be witnessing the slimmest and the safest ones, pretty soon. The team at Michigan has been working towards developing Kevlar based layers which are extremely small in size. Popularly known as the nano-sized membranes, these structures insulate the battery electrodes while allowing most of the lithium ions to pass and create a circuit, of sorts.

While this happens to be the basic circuitry involving the batteries, the slimness associated will avoid the chances of a short circuit within the structure. More energy can thus be incorporated within the prescribed real-estate with these Kevlar layers in play. Now you could easily get away with thinner modules supplying power to the handsets and even the Smartwatches, without worrying about the bulk and more importantly, spontaneous combustion.

The Roadmap

Unlike most of the battery based experiments, the group at Michigan has a well devised roadmap for taking the prospects further down the line. Under the hood of Elegus technologies, the researchers have formulated a hierarchy which includes the best possible usage of tangible products which can be procured easily enough. Mass production looks good for 2016, Q4 and with the modernized techniques in place, funding won’t be an issue. Termed as the Kevlar Equipped Batteries, these slimmer options would make your gadget extremely portable yet long-lasting. Be it texting or attending longer calls, overheating issues will also be taken care of by these nano-structures, realized into batteries. Video streaming or longish media playbacks, longevity will not be compromised with Kevlar layers onboard.

Elegus seems to be conversing with other companies, as per the reports and the future looks pretty bright for this start-up and even for the enthusiastic flock.

Principle Involved

Short circuits leading to those explosions might result out of those small conductive regions, growing inside the surface and eventually shorting out the electrodes. With lithium ions transported across the electrodes, current is produced and these nano-membranes fit in rather perfectly, preventing electron jumps. These membranes are placed between the electrodes, avoiding the fern-like structures to touch and even close in together. Being a fantastic insulating option, Kevlar provides amazing heat-resistance. This wouldn’t allow the batteries to heat up and being extremely thin, would allow more electrodes to be packed within the surface. This increases the energy output as well in addition to the enhanced longevity.

Siu On Tung, a PhD student and Nicholas Kotov, Professor, University of Michigan and have been working relentlessly toward solving the battery centric intricacies.

The Critical View

Kevlar is well known for stopping bullets and this is where the concept comes in handy. Batteries explode for a reason; ions arrange themselves and form structures called Dendrites. Most electrodes for the Smartphone batteries have an insulating material lined up but with the growing dendrites often trespass the same, poking the neighboring electrode. This causes the short leading to the exploding battery. Researchers at Michigan are planning to layer the batteries with these Kevlar based sheets, with the microscopic pores quite far off. This would prevent the fern like structures from crossing over and the batteries won’t blare out, spontaneously.

2016 might just be the perfect year for the release, keeping the Smartphones in line for the releases. Slimmer gadgets would come in picture with these Kevlar layered membranes, keeping those mysterious explosions at bay besides adding a lot of firepower at a considerable rear-estate.

Super-Slim Kevlar Layers Promising Thinner and Safer Batteries