A team of electrical and computer engineers at an Illinois university may have solved the problem by using ‘nanotubes’ – carbon tubes 10,000 times smaller than a human hair.
The scientists replaced the metal wiring in mobile devices’ batteries with the nanotubes and believe the changes could extend battery life by up to 100 times.
‘I think anyone who is dealing with a lot of chargers and plugging things in every night can relate to wanting a cell phone or laptop whose batteries can last for weeks or months,’ said Eric Pop of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology.
Mr Pop claims his team’s research could one day mean a mobile device like an iPhone could see hugely extended battery life, possibly to the point that it could run by harvesting thermal or solar energy rather than relying on a battery.
The research could also prove groundbreaking for devices much larger than mobile phones or portable computers.
‘We're not just talking about lightening our pockets or purses,’ Mr Pop explained.
‘This is also important for anything that has to operate on a battery, such as satellites, telecommunications equipment in remote locations, or any number of scientific and military applications.’
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