Cordless tools have been making strides over the past few years, as batteries become more advanced, smaller, and lighter. Lithium ion batteries have been slowly increasing their capacity and run time while shrinking in size and weight. But there’s a new material on the market for cordless tools: graphene, a lightweight material that has changed the battery game.
Graphene is a nano material
The basic structure of graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms that are spread out in a hexagonal shape to form a film. It’s so thin that it’s almost two-dimensional, and because of its shape, it’s highly conductive of both heat and electricity. Its unique shape makes it extremely strong for its thickness as well. Graphene batteries are being used for a wide range of projects, from electric vehicles to NASA’s flight program.
Graphene batteries charge faster and can power larger tools
Because graphene is so conductive, adding it to a traditional lithium ion battery can reduce charging time by three times. Graphene is 100 times more conductive than copper, to give you some idea of how much faster charging could become with graphene. This means needing fewer batteries on hand, as you won’t need to wait as long to charge one if you’re working on a big project. This technology can make cordless tools more practical even for larger projects.
Since the material allows for faster charging, it also allows for faster discharging, meaning that batteries with graphene can yield enough power for larger tools that use more power. Using a battery-powered chainsaw or concrete drill that runs for more than an hour could be in our near future. Cordless tools that are already popular like sanders and drills can benefit from increased torque.
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