[GreenYes] new battery technology

[Amy Perlmutter <amyp@chelseacenter.org>]

TITLE: New Alloy Extends  Battery Life
SOURCE: CEP, September 2001, Vol 97, No.9, P. 16
ABSTRACT: The power behind portable electronics, such as hand-held
detectors, laptops and cell phones, may be in for a boost owing to a
newly patented alloy. Developed by DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory
(BNL; Upton, NY) the alloy has a high capacity for storing charge, a
long-lasting ability to be charged and recharged, and good corrosion
resistance when used in nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MHx) batteries. The
alloy, which was awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,238,823 (May 29, 2001), does not
contain expensive cobalt, commonly used in many Ni/MHx batteries to ]
combat corrosion. The alloy is composed of lanthanum, nickel and tin,
and is not only inexpensive, but also relatively environmentally benign
according to James Reilly, BNL's team leader for the project. Increased
energy storage potential of the new alloy is due to a dumbbell structure
made up of two nickel atoms replacing a lanthanum atom in the alloy's
lattice. Reilly and his team found that using a ratio of lanthanum to
nickel/tin of 1:5.157, rather than the usual 1:5, decreased the alloy's
tendency to corrode, thereby increasing its life span. Its life exceeds
that of cobalt alloys used in commercial batteries. BNL has some
undisclosed preliminary, discussions underway for licensing.

Amy Perlmutter
Executive Director
Chelsea Center for Recycling and
Economic Development
University of Massachusetts
80 Everett Ave, Suite 221 (!!PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE JULY 12,
2001!!)
Chelsea, MA 02150
617-887-2300/fax 617-887-0399
visit our web site at www.chelseacenter.org
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