Lithium-Ion Battery Creator Invents A Better Version With 3X Energy Capacity

Practically every single tech company and manufacturer in the world depends on lithium-ion batteries to power their portable devices and products. All of them owe their success to John Goodenough, 93, who is one of the inventors of the power source. He’s not done yet, however, as even in his twilight years, Goodenough is still hard at work to make the world a better place. By inventing a new, better version of li-ion units that can hold three times the energy, Goodenough has already done plenty of good.

Goodenough made the new battery type with the help of Maria Helena Braga and researchers at the Cockrell School, Engadget reports. The result of their efforts is a solid state power pack that is both cheap and can triple the energy storage of a typical, commercial-grade li-ion battery. It’s even considered safer than standard batteries, which have been known to explode if made incorrectly.

What’s really interesting about this new battery, at least for avid technophiles, is the fact that it can be charged much faster than its older cousin. This is great news for those who have been complaining about their mobile devices needing to be plugged in for hours before they can be used. Additionally, the battery can also withstand more charging cycles, which means that it will last for longer without losing integrity.

Unfortunately, it won’t be for a good long while before the battery will be available for public use, let alone in mass-produced commercial versions. It’s still in its test phase, Fortune reports and will require quite a few tweaks before it is ready to be sent out to a vulnerable population.

This kind of technology is incredibly promising, but it needs time in order to get done properly. Otherwise, the world could be looking at yet another round of fires started by devices like those caused by Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7.