Ruthenium Battery Prototype: A Breakthrough or a Secret?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a prototype battery utilizing ruthenium, developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo. Participants explore its performance compared to lithium-ion batteries, its potential applications, and the reasons behind limited public information regarding the technology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the ruthenium battery prototype reportedly retains nearly 96% of its charge over months, outperforming lithium-ion batteries.
  • Concerns are raised about the energy density of the ruthenium battery compared to lithium-ion technology.
  • Questions arise regarding the nature of the battery, with some suggesting it might be a fuel cell, while others clarify it is a metal-hydride battery.
  • Participants discuss the potential challenges in scaling production, particularly the cost of ruthenium, which is noted to be rare and expensive.
  • There is speculation about why the technology is not widely publicized, with suggestions that developers may be keeping key characteristics as trade secrets.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the configuration of the battery, indicating that it involves a series of batteries rather than a single unit.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of curiosity and skepticism regarding the prototype's capabilities and the reasons for its limited disclosure. There is no consensus on the implications of the technology or the feasibility of its production beyond the prototype stage.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the rarity and cost of ruthenium as a significant factor in production challenges. There is also uncertainty regarding the battery's energy density and the specific load conditions under which it was tested.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those involved in battery technology, materials science, and energy storage solutions, as well as individuals curious about emerging technologies in the field of renewable energy.

BatteryNut
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Ruthenium and its ability to absorb hydrogen somehow was made into a battery prototype by some researchers at the University of Tokyo. It was demonstrated to hold a charge better than lithium ion batteries with nearly 96% retention of the incoming charge over a period they claimed reached months. The size of the prototype was equal to that of a standard laptop battery, yet in a small battery bank series powered an electric car motor at full speed for hours. I thought this would have been world news by now, yet there is silence.

Does anyone have more info? Can somebody out there get some more info out of Tokyo if you have access to this technology? Why is it being kept "under wraps"? It did not seem to overheat as the lithium ion storage method does. What would be difficult about producing more than a prototype of a ruthenium based battery?
 
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What would be difficult about producing more than a prototype of a ruthenium based battery? Cost probably, ruthenium is rare and very useful for many things.

"It was demonstrated to hold a charge better than lithium ion batteries ..." What about energy density?

"its ability to absorb hydrogen somehow" Is it a fuel cell?

Why is it being kept "under wraps"? I doubt that it is.

"a small battery bank series powered an electric car motor at full speed for hours."

With what sort of load?

I'm having some trouble finding a good hit about this (search engines keep giving this page 1st), but I did get you the price of ruthenium, ~ $300 per troy ounce.
 
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Also, you should note the word 'series.'
That means it's more than just a lab-top battery sized object powering this motor.
 
"its ability to absorb hydrogen somehow" Is it a fuel cell?
It's not a fuel cell, but a metal-hydride battery, as in Li-metal hydride.

I'm sure the developers are not ready to release information on it. If one has a really advanced technology, then one usually keeps key characteristics as trade secrets, unless the technology is patented.
 
Todays Spot Price, Ruthenium: bid=270, ask=305 dollars per troy ounce. A bit pricey.
 

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