new energy

 Lithium titanate (LTO) based batteries rely on a promising new technology that employs nanostructured materials to improve the performance, quality, and lifetime of these batteries. 

The battery consists of the three main parts: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte solution. However, the anode in these batteries is covered with nano-structured lithium-titanate instead of carbon (in the case of Li-ion batteries). This new technology increases the electrode's active surface area and allows electrical charges to move more easily and quickly. The high currents can then provide fast charging and discharging rates, long cycle life, and the ability to withstand diverse environmental and temperature conditions.

 Listed below are the main advantages of LTOs compared to the conventional Li-ion batteries: 

• Li-ion batteries generate power by allowing lithium ions to pass from the lithium cobalt oxide made cathode to the carbon made anode through the electrolyte solution of the battery. As described above, the anode of the lithium titanate battery is covered with lithium titanate nanocrystals that are chemically enhanced in order to provide a larger surface area (100 m2/gram compared to the 3m2/gram for carbon). This allows greater charge and discharge rates and an increase in energy storage. These batteries can be recharged in 10 minutes roughly, while conventional batteries demand hours.

• The lack of carbon in the anode of the LTOs eliminates any overheating problems making the battery safer to use.

• Conventional lithium-ion batteries can be recharged approximately 1,000 times. The total number of recharges for a lithium-titanate battery range between 15,000 to 25,000 times, as was demonstrated in Altairnano's labs.

• LTOs are suitable for low temperature environments and can also endure high temperature more effectively (-40°C to 55°C).