Battery powered devices have become ubiquitous to the point that they are at the foundation of the modern lifestyle. Electrical and electronic devices have steadily moved toward wireless power sources. Moving untethered with our devices has proven to be advantageous (and is now universally expected), but, there is the tradeoff of limited battery life.
The Israel based startup, StoreDot, has made a discovery that is sure to revolutionize the convenience of battery powered devices even further. In 2011, researchers at Tel-Aviv University discovered and developed peptide-based quantum dots (referred to as Nanodots). The Nanodot is the first bio-organic nano crystal to be discovered. At only two nanometers, the Nanodots possess multifunctional properties including: “fluorescents within the visible region, electrochemical, charge trapping, piezoelectric, and nonlinear optical.” These properties have applications in displays, non-volatile memory, data storage, and the medical field.
StoreDot is primarily focusing on the electrochemical properties of the Nanodots to usher in a new generation of cell phone batteries. They intend to apply this attribute to super-capacitors as well as batteries for other purposes. StoreDot is also developing technology to enhance TV displays, bio-LEDs, and bio-lasers by utilizing the Nanodot’s fluorescing bio-organic properties.
Since 2011, StoreDot has built successful prototypes and publicly released a video of a Samsung Galaxy S3 charging from 25% battery life to 100% in approximately 30 seconds. Their proprietary technology has received significant attention from major players in the cell phone industry; it is rumored that part of their $6.25 million Series A funding was received from Samsung. Furthermore, StoreDot recently closed $42 million in Series B funding which included $10 million from Roman Abramovich, who — in 2013 — acquired 23.3% of United Kingdom based global mobile network, Truphone Ltd.
It is clear that StoreDot will be moving into mobile phone applications with a fully functional cell phone battery projected to be available by 2017 at the latest. While it seems the battery is their most developed product, the nature of the Nanodot allows for completely non-toxic, cadmium free, flexible displays which in the long run could have far greater marketability than the cell phone battery technology. Furthermore, if the battery technology can be scalable to the level of even a car battery, the company’s potential would be nearly unlimited. Rapidly charging car batteries would rival the oil industry and potentially eliminate the demand for gas powered engines.
It goes without saying that this technology could indeed challenge the entire battery industry, assuming it is applicable on the necessary scales. This technology could prove to be an important piece to the puzzle of our transition away from carbon-based energy consumption. In the current climate of tumultuous technological advancement, this is without a doubt a startup company that merits sustained perusal.
Sam Chordas
Sources:
StoreDot’s Bio-Organic Battery Tech Can Charge From Flat To Full In 30 Seconds
StoreDot Charges Up With $42M For Its Fast-Charging Bio-Organic Batteries
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/06/12/roman-abramovich-invests-10-million-in-israels-storedot/
TAMID at USC 