# iPhone as Slim as a Credit Card: The Future of Battery Innovations
Envision an iPhone as slender as a credit card. This futuristic idea might soon materialize, driven by revolutionary advances in battery innovations. Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have created a groundbreaking “massless” battery that could set the stage for ultra-slim devices like smartphones, laptops, and even electric vehicles (EVs). This development could fundamentally alter our perceptions of energy storage and device design.
## The Difficulty of Slim Devices
In the realm of smartphones, thinner is frequently viewed as preferable. Brands like Apple are persistently challenging design limits, aiming to create sleeker devices while preserving durability and performance. Nonetheless, one of the primary obstacles to achieving ultra-slim devices is battery technology. Batteries tend to be bulky, restricting how slender a device can be without jeopardizing battery life or efficiency.
For example, Huawei recently unveiled the Mate XT, a tri-fold foldable phone equipped with exceptionally slim batteries measuring just 1.9mm. Although this is a notable milestone, it still falls short compared to the promise of the new massless battery technology from Chalmers University. This innovation could enable devices that are not only thinner but also more energy-efficient.
## The “Massless” Battery: A Revolutionary Leap
Researchers at Chalmers University have developed a battery that can be fused into the device’s framework, essentially making the battery a component of the device’s structure. This “massless energy storage” system utilizes carbon fiber composite materials that possess a stiffness comparable to aluminum, allowing them to fulfill both the role of structural support and energy storage.
This innovation holds the potential to create devices as slender as a credit card, which measures merely 0.76mm thick. To contextualize this, the batteries in Huawei’s Mate XT are already recognized as ultra-thin at 1.9mm, but an iPhone sized like a credit card would be an even more astonishing achievement.
## The Mechanism Behind It
The Chalmers team has devoted years to developing this technology. In 2018, they discovered that carbon fibers could function as energy storage units. Since that time, they’ve been enhancing the technology to boost both material stiffness and energy density. The latest iteration of their battery boasts an energy density of 30Wh/kg, which remains lower than that of conventional batteries, but could be transformative when incorporated into the device’s structure.
The battery operates by transforming the carbon fiber into both the positive and negative electrodes. This eliminates the need for conventional materials such as copper and aluminum, which are typically used as current collectors in batteries. Moreover, the researchers have excluded conflict minerals like cobalt and manganese from the electrodes, making the battery more environmentally friendly.
A semi-solid electrolyte facilitates the movement of lithium ions within the battery, discarding the liquid electrolyte commonly found in standard batteries. This configuration not only enhances safety by minimizing fire hazards but also allows for potential advancements in power output.
## Beyond Smartphones: Diverse Applications
Although the prospect of a credit card-sized iPhone is thrilling, the applications of this technology reach far beyond smartphones. The researchers believe that their massless battery could transform the automotive and aerospace sectors. For instance, the carbon fiber material could construct the body of an electric vehicle while also serving as its battery. This could greatly decrease the vehicle’s weight, resulting in better energy efficiency and extended driving ranges.
Research leader Leif Asp at Chalmers University suggests that electric vehicles utilizing this technology could travel up to 70% further than current models. This would represent a significant advancement in the movement toward sustainable transport.
## The Path Forward
While the technology remains in its infancy, researchers harbor optimism about its prospects. They have launched a startup named Sinonus to commercialize the massless battery technology. Their most recent findings have been published in the journal *Advanced Materials*, and they are continuously working on enhancing the energy density and power output of the battery.
Asp envisions additional applications, such as laptops and other electronics that might weigh half of what current versions do. The technology could even be applied in aircraft, where weight reduction is vital for boosting fuel efficiency.
## In Summary
The advent of massless battery technology could revolutionize various sectors, from consumer electronics to transportation. Although we may still be years away from encountering credit card-sized iPhones or laptops, the advancements being spearheaded by researchers at Chalmers University represent a hopeful stride toward that future. As battery technology evolves, we can anticipate the arrival of thinner, lighter, and more energy-efficient devices that expand the horizons of what’s achievable.
For now, companies like Apple and Huawei are likely to continue investigating ways to integrate these innovations into their products, drawing us closer to a reality where ultra-slim, high-performance devices are commonplace.
