New lithium/sodium-glass battery shows promise says lithium-ion battery co-inventor

[gary]

Mark Anderson in a 3 March 2017 article (http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/does-new-glass-battery-accelerate-the-end-of-oil)at the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers Spectrum Magazine web site, reports on
a novel lithium or sodium glass battery that might displace the lithium
ion battery.

Promising new battery technology announcements have come and gone
in the past, but this one was made by John Goodenough of MIT,
co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery.



Article here -
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/does-new-glass-battery-accelerate-the-end-of-oil

[skysurfer]

I hope his story is Good Enough to make it commercially viable.

However, metallic sodium is very reactive with water (much more than Li), so the battery should be well sealed.

[Wavytone]

Read the links. The sodium is NOT in metallic form in these batteries, it is an ION so it's in solution.

All that is likely if catastrophically damaged is hot pile of yellow goo (the molten glass electrolyte). Maybe not something you want in your lap, but not a persistent source of fire.

[bigjoe]

Goodenough for sure!;)
bigjoe.

[Wavytone]

As an aside... If petrol had been proposed in the current era of safety and environmental management it would never have been adopted.

[ZeroID]

If I read the article correctly the glass is not liquid. Operating temp -20 to +60 C or am I missing something ? :shrug:
I thought I spotted 'solid electrolyte' somewhere .... :question:

[gary]

Hi Brent,

The electrolyte is solid.

The initial "Technical Field" and "Background" sections of the cited Patent
application provide additional detail for interested readers -
https://www.google.com/patents/US20160368777