QuantumSphere, Inc. (QSI), a leading manufacturer of nanoscale metals and alloys for applications in portable power, renewable energy and other markets demanding advanced materials, has announced the filing of two groundbreaking patents covering composition of matter and a paper-thin electrode device responsible for achieving a 320% increase in power and efficiency for zinc-air battery cathodes.
With these latest patent applications, QuantumSphere is tapping into a potential multi-billion-dollar battery market with the goal of delivering significant performance enhancement to disposable zinc-air batteries. Primary zinc-air batteries offer 3-6 times the energy of equivalent size alkaline and rechargeable batteries.
Zinc-air batteries employ oxygen from the air to use in their cathode, and use an anode primarily composed of zinc and an alkaline electrolyte. Zinc-air has a weight and volume advantage over most other battery technologies, because one of its two active reagents, i.e., oxygen, adds no weight or volume within the cell. The energy capacity is dependent only on the amount of zinc present in the anode. Zinc-air disposable batteries are widely used in such applications as hearing aid batteries. Rechargeable zinc-air batteries have eluded significant production due to poor life of the electrodes.
Zinc/air technology has high energy density and is cheap too. The rechargeable versions for cars have been hindered by complex, energy consuming pumping systems to turn the dissolved zinc oxide back into zinc to recharge.
Given a zinc pellet/electrolyte slurry fueling system, zinc/air electric cars could refuel much like a conventional car at the gas pump. Except that the used electrolyte/zinc oxide solution would have to be drained for recharging at the refueling station.
This electrode device may put zinc/air out in front of even quick charge lithium ion on cost and weight. And refueling speed? well maybe 5 minutes for a full tank of zinc pellet/electrolyte slurry and to simultaneously drain the used electrolyte solution.
Now how much would a zinc/air "gas pump" that could be installed at filling stations, homes, shopping centers, or workplaces cost? With credit/debit card payment these refueling pumps could be installed anywhere or of course free of charge refueling stations at home.
Posted by: amazingdrx | October 20, 2006 at 10:32 AM
The way I understand it Zinc-Air batteries aren't rechargable, or aren't easily rechargable.
I wonder how good they compare to Lith-ion as far as power density, and energy density. If they were better in everything but recharging, I wonder if this technology wouldn't be prime for the battery swapping, that I don't think will work in the Lith-ion business.
Posted by: Greg Woulf | October 20, 2006 at 02:00 PM