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Cornell and Brookhaven National Laboratory announce battery breakthroughs for five minute charging

February 05, 2024

Cornell University and the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory announced new battery chemistry and designs that allow for batteries to charge in five minutes while maintaining stability over prolonged use.

The team at Cornell University has found that indium, a material primarily used in coatings for displays and solar panels, could also be used in batteries that charge quickly and retain their storage. The material’s unique combination allows it to charge rapidly without losing that charge. However, the researchers noted that indium is heavy, suggesting that further research is needed to find a lighter material with similar characteristics.

Simultaneously, engineers from the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that adding a compound called caesium nitrate to a part of the battery significantly improves the charging rate of lithium metal batteries, while also extending their life cycle. This team is part of the Battery500 Consortium, a group of labs and universities aiming to create batteries with an energy density of 500 watt-hours per kilogram, more than double the current capacity.