Very interesting company. They started with a way to produce graphene at scale, then went looking for something to do with it. Their first idea was to use it as a cement additive. They have since used it as friction reducer in engine oil, and are selling it in Australia, Canada, and soon the US, as a radiator coating to improve HVAC performance.
Lithium-polymer batteries didn’t take off until the 2000s. Those (and the lithium-ion they were built on) were pretty revolutionary, at least as much as this aluminum-ion is supposed to be. That ought to count. (Unless you’re less than 20 years old, in which case “never in my lifetime” is probably accurate, and you should count yourself lucky that you never had to deal with arrays of D batteries, or the mediocre but technically rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries.)
Ha! Same thought at pretty much the same time. Good to see you fellow elder.
Yeah, I remember having to put extra batteries in some devices, because the 1.5v AA alkalines vs. 1.2v AA NiCads add up when you need 10 of them.
That makes me wonder if there’s more modern versions of the AA and AAA batteries that use the newer tech to last longer (and hopefully not leak if left alone for a while). All the ones I have here just say “alkaline” and I’m not sure if that’s a category that includes newer lithium batteries or if it’s just the same old tech.
Yes, you can get rechargeable lithium batteries in the standard form factors like AA or AAA. They should work for most things, but the voltage is a bit different and of course you must use the right charger. They’ve been out for quite a few years and even the main brands sell them now