Joe

This sounds as if it may be interesting.

Best regards,

Brian

Joe Fjelstad wrote:
> Magnesium Batteries Show Mettle
>
> Technology Research News
> May 13, 2003
>
> Researchers from Bar-Ilan University in Israel have developed
> rechargeable batteries made from magnesium, a cheap, abundant and
> relatively environmentally friendly metal. The batteries can be
> recharged as many as 3,000 times, lose power slowly, and have a working
> temperature range of -40 to 100 degrees Celsius. They are also safe and
> maintenance-free, making them good candidates for large-size
> applications like powerplant load-leveling, according to the researchers.
> The key to making batteries that use magnesium as a positive electrode
> was finding suitable negative electrode and electrolyte materials.
> Batteries use a cycle of chemical reactions between positive and
> negative electrodes to release energy stored in the electrolyte. The
> researchers' prototype uses a molybdenum sulfide negative electrode and
> liquid and solid electrolytes of organic, or carbon-based, and
> organo-metallic compounds.
> The batteries have an energy density of 60 Watt hours per kilogram,
> which is higher than existing nickel cadmium and lead acid batteries,
> but lower than lithium batteries. The researchers are working to
> increase the energy density of the batteries.
> The batteries could be used in practical devices in two to five years,
> according to the researchers. The work appeared in the April 9, 2003
> issue of Advanced Materials.
>