Another entrant in the battery race to clean energy storage.

Mark Shwartz, Stanford PR, 6 April 2015,

Aluminum battery from Stanford offers safe alternative to conventional batteries:
The new aluminum-ion battery could replace many of the lithium-ion and alkaline batteries in wide use today.

Stanford University scientists have invented the first
high-performance aluminum battery that’s fast-charging, long-lasting
and inexpensive. Researchers say the new technology offers a safe
alternative to many commercial batteries in wide use today.

“We have developed a rechargeable aluminum battery that may replace
existing storage devices, such as alkaline batteries, which are bad
for the environment, and lithium-ion batteries, which occasionally
burst into flames,” said Hongjie Dai, a professor of chemistry at
Stanford. “Our new battery won’t catch fire, even if you drill
through it.”

Although drilling would produce aluminum dust, which isn’t exactly benign.
However, point taken.

Personally, I still prefer Continue reading →