80% charge in 1 minute. I don't need to say anything else.

Toshiba Corporation has announced that they have developed an ultra-rapid recharging lithium-ion battery capable of reaching 80% recharge in about 1 minute. They are planning for commercialization in 2006.

Lithium ion batteries have traditionally required a long amount of time to recharge from a high energy density, but this new lithium ion battery uses nanoparticles for its negative pole.

These nanoparticles can smoothly absorb and store lithium ions, and have the distinction of not disassembling the organic electrolytes even if recharged quickly. Toshiba has developed technology to equally fix these nanoparticles, and turned them into an electrode.

This allows lithium ion batteries with a high energy density to be quickly recharged, and in addition, a decreased capacity of under 1% even after 1,000 recharges. Furthermore, the batteries retain an 80% capacity even at temperatures under -40 degrees Celsius.

Toshiba will be conducting product development for lithium ion batteries with more power and industrial use, and plans o­n including them in notebook PCs and mobile phones.



Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2005/0329/toshiba.htm

Press Release:
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr_j2901.htm