A new discovery could boost the lives of rechargeable lithium ion batteries from 4 hours to up to ten times more, according to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford University’ Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The study that was published in Nature Nanotechnology unveils a new method of using silicon nanowires for batteries, because the silicon has a low discharge potential and at the same time the highest charge capacity known so far.

According to the authors of the study, silicon anodes usually have limited applications due to the fact that when lithium is inserted and extracted, the silicon first changes its volume by 400%, than later pulverizes and its capacity fades. But researchers also found that the silicon nanowire battery electrodes can overcome this series of problems, being able to provide good electronic contact and conduction, which could potentially raise the life of a lithium ion battery to 40 hours.

Assistant professor Yi Cui, who is a co-writer to the study, explained that compared to the classical graphite anode that are being currently used, the silicon nanowires do not limit the amount of lithium, which is basically responsible for holding the charge, and consequently have the potential to increase the life of the battery. This has been a highly discussed issue for the past three decades, as scientists did not manage to find the adequate methods to prolong the batteries’ charging capacity.

However, we have yet to wait for our laptops, mobile phone, video cameras or iPods to benefit from such a battery. Scientists have not ended their research, and neither have they managed to evaluate the costs of commercializing their newly discovered technology. There will probably have to pass a few years more before it will become available, but at the end of the day, it is certainly worth waiting.