Anyone who owns a cell phone or laptop knows the woeful shortcomings of battery technology, despite the vast battery research coming out of labs around the world. But beyond the daily inconveniences this can cause many of us, poor battery performance is also a major barrier to new energy technology. So what's the problem with today's batteries? Low-performing battery electrolytes are often the stumbling block. But one startup, Boulder Ionics, says it's about to change that. The company is developing manufacturing techniques using ionic liquids to create a kind of electrolyte that can operate at high voltages and temperatures, isn't flammable, and doesn't evaporate, according to an article in today's Technology Review. The ionic liquids, which are made from salts that are in a molten state below 100?C, would normally be expensive to produce, but Boulder Ionics is developing a cheaper manufacturing process.
