元器件交易网讯 4月25日消息，据外媒报道，研究人员设计出一款供可穿戴设备及医疗设备使用的电池，该电池可续航十年无需充电。

　　新的电池基于锂氟化碳（CFx）化学式，这种产品比现有电池更为安全。论文第一作者，研究员梁成都（音）表示，CFx电池大小与硬币类似，应用于低功耗健身追踪器及可穿戴设备可续航多年。“电池是一次性的，无法充电。”

　　美国陆军现有的研究显示，CFx化学式电池是“已知与其他锂电池相比，理论容量最高的电池之一”。

　　“这是基于旧理论的全新设计，”梁表示，但成本控制是CFx电池需要解决的问题。（元器件交易网毛毛  编译）

　　以下为原文：

　　Researchers have designed a battery thatcould keep wearable and health care devices running for 10 or more yearswithout a recharge.

　　The new design, based on the lithium carbonfluoride (CFx) chemical formula, could also lead to batteries that are saferthan current ones. A prototype battery based on the formula was tested byresearchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory,and a related paper was published in the Journal of the American ChemicalSociety last week.

　　The CFx batteries could be as small ascoins, and could last for years in low-power fitness trackers or wearabledevices with sensors, said researcher Chengdu Liang, the lead author of thepaper.

　　Not rechargeable—and that’s OK

　　“The battery is not going to be recharged. It’s one-time use,” Liangsaid.

　　Wearable devices typically transmit smallbursts of information and don’t demand much energy, which can prolong life ofthe CFx battery. The battery could be desirable for sensors and human implantslike pacemakers, which are difficult to recharge or replace, Liang said.

　　The prototype CFx battery in its currentform is not intended for use in computers and mobile devices, which consumemore energy than sensors and rely on recharges, Liang said.

　　“This study is proof-of-concept research, but we have been contactedby a private company interested in commercializing the battery. It could becomea reality in a few years depending on the commercialization timeline,” Liangsaid.

　　Today’s batteries do not last very long andsome are considered unsafe. PC makers Sony and Lenovo recently reported casesof lithium-ion batteries causing laptops to overheat and burn.

　　Research for new batteries using zinc-airand lithium-air technology is underway. Some alternative batteries such asthose using silver-zinc are considered too expensive. The promise of fuel cellsis catching on with car makers.

　　To be sure, the CFx chemical formula forbatteries isn’t new. Special batteries based on the formula are apparently soldby companies like Contour Energy for use by the military in drones,night-vision goggles and other electronics. Those batteries are available indifferent sizes. Contour Energy did not respond to calls, and emails bouncedback.

　　"Big breakthrough"

　　But according to existing research from theU.S. Army, the CFx chemical formula is “known to have one of the highesttheoretical energy capacities compared to other popular lithium cellchemistries.”

　　“It is based on the old theory and with the new design,” ORNL’s Liangsaid. “This is a big breakthrough.”

　　During an experiment, the ORNL researchersdeveloped and tested an actual CFx battery, but used a solid electrolyte to addmore energy capacity. Current lithium-ion batteries have electrodes in the formof a positive cathode and a negative anode, and electrolytes in between socharged lithium ions can move around. When charging a battery, lithium ionsmove from a cathode to an anode for storage. In discharge, the lithium ionsmove from the anode to the cathode, and out to the device.

　　The new CFx battery design has amultipurpose electrolyte of solid lithium thiophosphate that can be an ionconductor and also serve as a cathode. The electrolyte can carry charge andhold ions, which helps boost the energy capacity of the battery. The prototypeCFx battery has a solid electrolyte, while conventional batteries have liquidelectrolytes, Liang said.

　　“You have an electrolyte that not only does its own job, it providesthe function of the cathode,” Liang said. “You can also store energy in theelectrolyte.”

　　The dual-functioning electrolyte could leadto new battery designs, and new batteries could be in the market in a fewyears, Liang said. He wasn’t able to determine the cost of making suchbatteries.

　　“I have no idea of mass production and how much it’s going to costfor each individual battery. All the material we use here is abundant.,” Liangsaid.

　　ORNL researchers worked for three to fouryears on this battery technology and are researching new solid electrolytematerials, Liang said.

　　ORNL, based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, ismanaged by University of Tennessee, Battelle.