Researchers at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology announced on Tuesday that they have managed to develop a type of core battery technology that's more efficient and charges faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Dubbed “graphene ball”, Samsung says this unique material allows 45 percent increase in capacity and boosts charging speed by five times the existing standards. This breakthrough could have big implications for next-generation secondary battery market related to smartphones and electric vehicles according to Samsung.
For a battery that currently takes about an hour to charge with fast charging technology, in theory, could take as little as 12 minutes to charge with new tech. Moreover, the battery is able to keep a stable temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. Since the batteries remain “highly stable”, they are perfectly suited for use in electric cars, the company said.
But what exactly is Graphene Ball Tech?
The standard lithium-ion batteries were first commercialized in 1991. Battery researchers have since been looking new materials to replace silicon so as to increase charging capacity. Graphene has been among these materials.
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms from graphite and was first discovered in 2004. It has been touted in the electronics industry as “miracle material” given its strength, conductivity, and elasticity. Samsung says it makes an ideal material for fast charge since it is 100 times more effective than copper in conducting electricity and 140 times faster in transferring energy than silicon according to Samsung.
Of course, Samsung isn’t the only one trying to develop graphene-based batteries. But lately, the company was able to discover a mechanism to synthesise graphene affordably. Thus finding a cost-effective way to mass produce the material, Samsung has gone a step forward in bringing the new technology to the market.
