The new batteries have 50 percent more energy than traditional batteries, Licht reports in Friday's edition of the journal Science. When he tested gadgets that drain batteries at extra-high rates, such as portable CD players, he found that the super iron also has extra conductivity, leading to another advantage. Battery experts called the discovery promising. I think the manufacturers will be intrigued by it. But Licht declined comment when asked if manufacturers already are interested in commercializing his invention.
Batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy through reactions at the anode and cathode.
When active materials at either electrode are used up, the battery dies. In most alkaline batteries, the cathode dries up long before the anode. But Licht discovered that the caustic solutions commonly used inside batteries actually stabilize the super iron so it doesn't decay. The super iron absorbs more electrons than the old-fashioned cathode, making it more powerful, Licht's team showed. Electric cars, for instance, have been stalled by the quest for an affordable battery that can go longer distances without frequent recharging.