batteries fail to keep pace with technology - lithium cells

The battery, the technology of time forgetting, should have disappeared next to the Wood
Paneled wagon.
The sealed chemical cocktails we use to power computers, boombox and phones have barely changed since the 1950 s.
For decades, electronic designers have been trying to customize the latest Silicon chips and integrated circuits based on battery power limitations.
"They are holding us back," said Paul saver, director of the Institute for the future.
If the battery advances at the speed of the computer processor, "double
A cell contains more energy than a tactical nuclear weapon.
"There is no other portable power supply other than some devices, such as weak solar cells and mechanical start-up devices.
It's the battery.
"There's nothing you can do about it," says Boris Donskoy . " He designed portable electronic instruments for InHand Electronics Inc.
Rockville, Maryland
"There are some basic limitations in physics.
"The researchers said that at some point, portable fuel cells and small jet engines will replace the batteries ---
Or a new battery made of a better combination of chemicals.
But no one can say when
Until then, we have been insisting on using a power source that dates back to 1859, when the first lead-acid battery was made in France.
The same basic energy storage concept still fuels 4 billion disposable batteries sold annually in the United States. The name of No.
Rayovac Corp, battery seller.
It can be traced back to the 1930 s when radio technology was pushed from the introduction of vacuum tubes, which were replaced by transistors long ago.
Jim Pilarzyk, Rayovac engineer, said his industry has no hope of keeping up with rapid growth.
The deformed computer processor doubles the speed every 18 months and halve the volume.
He said that the power capacity is increased by 5% every two years and is the best battery scientists can manage.
"The battery industry is somewhat limited," says Pilarzyk . ".
"They are analog devices in the digital world.
"It is unfair to compare the battery with the computer.
Bart's roots are in the chemist's beaker.
Advances in manufacturing and the ability to make circuits and transistors smaller and smaller Drive the speed of computers.
"The battery is not a microprocessor," said Donald Sadoway, a battery researcher at MIT.
"This is a chemical device.
It observes different scaling laws.
"For portable electronics designers who are eager to narrow down gadgets and add functionality, battery power is a bottleneck that hinders their ambitions.
"The goal of the past 20 years is to design around the limitations of the battery," said Saffo . ".
It will not run for a long time if the device needs to be small.
It can't be small if it needs to run for a long time-or have power-guzzling add-
For example, a fast processor, DVD drive, audio, or color display.
"My first question when I want to design something is how much energy does it consume? "Said downstoy.
There is a big trade.
Turn off between size, power consumption and cost.
"The desire for portable power supplies is ruthless.
Once a better battery comes in, the designer will respond quickly and launch new devices to push the battery to its limits.
In the early 1990 s, laptops were made of rechargeable nickel.
Nickel metal hydrogenation
The service life of the battery is about 4 hours.
When the more powerful lithium
The ion battery appeared after 90 s, and the breakthrough narrowed the phone down to the shirt-pocket size.
Lithium battery drives manual release
It can run for hours and even play a backlit color screen.
Scientists say battery science has entered a plateau since then.
"We are starting to approach the engineering limits of this chemistry," Sadoway said . " He's talking about lithium. ion cell.
Another problem with the battery is the environment.
Of the billions of dollars sold each year, most end up concentrated in landfill sites and incinerators, their toxic ingredients ---
Mercury, cadmium, zinc, nickel and manganese--
Alan Hershkowitz of the National Resource Defense Commission said it would penetrate into the air and groundwater.
As chemists and engineers strive for more power, consumers begin to buy and discard batteries and wonder if there is a conspiracy.
Does the manufacturer refuse to make better batteries?
Bruce Rittenhouse, president of electronic automation, said: "It is not economical for battery manufacturers to develop new technologies . "
Big Rapids in Mich.
A company that repairs Industrial Electronics"Why do it?
They want to sell you batteries every month instead of every six years.
Lu Erli, a scientist and a power holding company.
Sneer at this idea
With Energizer and Duracell, its main competitor, surpassing each other, the slowdown in innovation gives another company a strong right.
"You can't let this happen," said Urry, 76 . " He helped invent Eveready's first alkaline battery, which was put on shelves in 1958.