By using silicon nanowires as the anode, in rechargeable lithium ion batteries, instead of graphite the amount of lithium the anode can hold is extended tenfold and thus the battery's life.
Needless to say, a tenfold increase in battery life is great news far beyond laptops. This is great for travellers who want to use their computers on long flights, whether to do work, watch personal videos or play those games they're so addicted to.
Implications - And the developers of the product are equally as excited. "It's not a small improvement," said Doug Cui, one of the creator's of the Stanford Silicon Nanowires. "It's a revolutionary development."
It'll be interested to see whether these become dominant in the marketplace. Considering the importance of the Internet to students, businessmen, and entertainers, I wouldn't be surprised if it did.
40-Hour Laptop Batteries
Stanford Silicon Nanowires
Trend Themes
1. Silicon Nanowire Batteries - Using silicon nanowires in rechargeable lithium ion batteries can increase their lifespan tenfold, resulting in potentially disruptive innovation opportunities in the battery industry.
2. Extended Battery Life - The ability to extend the life of a rechargeable lithium ion battery tenfold has potential to disrupt industries that rely on devices, such as laptops, smartphones and tablets.
3. Portable Computing Devices - With a tenfold increase in battery life, travel-friendly portable computing devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets may see opportunities for disruptive innovation in portability and longer usage times.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Silicon nanowire batteries could disrupt the consumer electronics industry by providing longer battery life for portable devices.
2. Automotive - The development of silicon nanowire batteries could potentially lead to disruptive innovation for electric cars by providing longer lifespan and range.
3. Renewable Energy - Silicon nanowire batteries could have implications for renewable energy storage solutions by providing more efficient and longer-lasting battery technology.