MIT researchers are developing a radically new battery technology that may have significant implications for automotive manufacturers to power utilities. The new tech incorporates an architecture known as a semi-solid flow cell, and is comprised of two separate physical structures for storage and for discharge. The structure creates an efficiency in the way they are designed and ultimately manufactured. While the flow-type architecture has been around for a while, the 'fuel' hasn't allowed for the batteries to be small enough or efficient in the storage and discharge of the energy. The semi-solid material, affectionately known as 'Cambridge crude', addresses these issues as well as the potential cost of production.
Why is this so significant? Well, the possibility is there for this material to exist as a kind of fuel replacement for gasoline. Imagine pulling into a refuelling station and instead of filling your gas tank, you refill your battery. Because the material is already charged, you can be on your way in a matter of minutes. Then, once you're done driving for the day you can simply plug the vehicle into an outlet and recharge the fuel yourself overnight. Fascinating stuff.
SOURCE: MIT News
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