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UDRI makes breakthrough with new rechargeable battery

The University of Dayton Research Institute's electrochemical power group has developed the first solid-state, rechargeable lithium-air battery.

Chris Stewart/Staff photographer The University of Dayton Research Institute's electrochemical power group has developed the first solid-state, rechargeable lithium-air battery.

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 10:53 PM Friday, November 20, 2009

DAYTON — University of Dayton Research Institute scientists say they have developed a rechargeable lithium-air battery that, because it doesn’t contain liquid, can avoid the problems of conventional lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that can catch fire or rupture.

The university is looking for partners that it could license the “breakthrough” technology to for manufacturing of the batteries, said Binod Kumar, a research engineer and leader of UDRI’s electrochemical power group. Air Force Research Laboratory funding supported the work.

Kumar, who has been involved in the work for 20 years, and his team have developed and tested the batteries in quarter-size forms suitable for experimentation. Commercializing the technology would allow manufacturing of larger batteries that could make them available in as little as two years for powering electronic devices and eight years for powering automobiles, he said.

The batteries also could generate electricity to support utility power grids, or supplement the intermittent generation of solar or wind power systems, said Dan Rastler, manager of the energy storage program at Electric Power Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit research organization funded by the electric utility industry.

Keep reading: New battery would be great for hybrid, electric cars

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or  jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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This is ground-breaking technology that will put UD on the map yet once again - could become a billion dollar industry and the technology itself is as important as the creation of microchips or even batteries itself. Watch for the news to hit nationally and around the world very quickly. We can only hope that Dayton can reap the benefits of this - not necessarily just production facilities but further research and outright new large companies created here.

dougOH
5:20 PM, 11/21/2009

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Don't allow a battery production plant to be built over the aquifer.

RWE
7:51 AM, 11/21/2009

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There already is a acid free car battery,its the Optima battery.It can be used upside down if need be ,and is a deep cycle battery.

Old Bus
7:33 AM, 11/21/2009

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I hope they get built in Dayton and not Peking. Good work Dayton. Now sell the tech to GM so they can get rid of that long extension cord that come with the Volt.

not fair
5:34 AM, 11/21/2009

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