The possible real world applications of the wonder material graphene have been exciting many since it was first measurably produced and isolated in a lab in 2003. The material, theorized for decades but only just recently produced, has pretty incredible properties. Wikipedia notes “It is about 200 times stronger than steel by weight, conducts heat and electricity with great efficiency and is nearly transparent.” It has been proposed that the incredibly properties of graphene could make it a revolutionary material in everything from semiconductors to bullet proof vests.
And in a story today by the Inquirer, it looks like graphene is one step closer to becoming a powerful part of our everyday lives in battery technology. Samsung’s Advance Institute of Technology developed a new lithium-ion battery that uses graphene to coat the battery’s silicon cathode, doubling the battery’s capacity. Samsung is already filing pattens covering the new battery tech in China, Europe, Korea, and the United States.
It was also reported LG is developing a device powered by a new battery technology that relies on a hexagonal shape to increase its capacity. The new shape of the battery is designed to provide an extra four hours a day for smartwatches.
While computing power has continued to exponentially increase over the decades following Moore’s law, battery technology has yet to keep apace. But advances with new materials like graphene, as well as advances in wireless charging standards, may bring huge changes in battery technology for our mobile devices.
Further reading: Battery, LG, Samsung, smart watch, smartphone
