Can New Titanium-Dioxide Battery Last 20 Years, Recharge In 5 Minutes?

Lithium-ion batteries help make modern electric cars possible, but they're also responsible for those vehicles' limitations.

That's why so much attention is given to improving lithium-ion chemistry, which can help electric cars overcome current limits of range, charging times, and battery lifespan.

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Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore (via Engadget) say they've developed a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged to 70 percent capacity in two minutes, and last up to 20 years.

That would allow an electric car to fully recharge in around five minutes--about the same time it takes to refuel a gasoline car--and ease concerns over short battery lifespans and the need to replace battery packs.

These impressive experimental results were achieved by replacing the graphite typically used in lithium-ion battery anodes with a titanium-dioxide gel.

Currently used as a food additive and an ingredient in sunscreen, titanium-dioxide can be reconfigured into nanotubes, which allows chemical reactions in the battery to take place at a faster rate, researchers say, lowering charging times.

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