Kevlar Membrane (Photo : www.gizmodo.com)
Kevlar can now be used to make batteries that are guaranteed to be safer and may never explode.
A team of researchers from the University of Michigan have come up with a way to utilize Kevlar to make slimmer and safer lithium-ion energy packs, Engadget reported.
The team of researchers, including professor Nicholas Kotov and PhD student Siu On Tung, have managed to develop nano-sized membranes from Kevlar, which will allow insulation for electrodes inside a battery while still enabling the passage of lithium ions, creating a proper electric circuit.
Boeing has already experienced a threatening short circuit on batteries for its 787 Dreamliner, resulting in the plane being grounded for several months.
In addition, the Kevlar membrane will also allow for more energy stored in a given space. This means that not only will the Kevlar make a battery safer, it can also add more power, which is a much needed upgrade in today's smartphones, tablets and other gadget, Gizmodo reported.
The Kevlar membrane was found to have great heat-resistant properties, which make it very ideal for batteries that are heavily used and are prone to overheating.
The researchers have already took the initiative to form a company named Elegus Technologies. Mass production of lithium cells with Kevlar membranes are slated to start in the last quarter of 2016. The tech firm is reported to be in discussions with other companies that may benefit from the newly discovered technology. The earliest that gadgets may be equipped with the Kevlar membrane batteries is expected in 2017.
