EW News 14/04/2004 - NEC reveals organic radical battery detailsNEC reveals organic radical battery details Steve Bush
NEC has revealed performance details of its organic radical battery, a lithium-ion cell variant that could potentially be recharged in less than a minute.
The organic radical battery was created through the substitution of the heavy metal oxide with an organic compound as the active cathode material, said
NEC.
The polymer cathode material, which replaces traditional cobalt or manganese oxides, is poly (2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidinoxyl-4-yl methacrylate), or PTMA. When combined with a graphite anode, the organic battery retains 92 per cent of its capacity after 1,000 cycles.
PTMA as used has a specific energy density of 60 to 100mAh/g - translating to 70Ah/kg, said the firm. Terminal voltage is 3.5V, compared with 4.2 in normal Li-ion cells.
Details
were revealed at to the US Electrochemical Society.
According to unconfirmed reports, PTMA-based Li-ion cells can be charged in a little as 30 seconds, compared with an hour for Mn or Co types.
NEC subsidiary Tokin recently released details of its proton polymer battery, a device that holds less than most rechargeables, but is claimed to last up to 500,000 cycles and can be charged in seconds.