New process could speed up smartphone charging by three times

It’s not uncommon when we find our smartphones in need a quick top-up recharge to stop it from dying completely. But rarely do quick top-ups offer decent use time. Also, the larger mobile batteries get, the more the time they need to recharge. The iPad, for example, can take nearly four hours to charge completely.   But a recent invention by Qnovo, might offer some respite to all those who struggle to retain enough juice on their mobile devices. The California-based startup claims its technology could help bring down charging time by one third the normal time and also increase battery life. This it does without the user having to replace the original battery.   Qnovo applies a unique charging process where it minimises the damage caused to the battery due to lithium plating (where lithium ions bond to each other) and recognises when the battery can take slower or faster charging.   The website explains: “Rather than charging with a simple current, Qnovo injects a series of charge “packets”, followed by measurements to determine the battery’s state-of-health. Modifications are then applied to simultaneously minimize charge time and cell damage. This process is repeated hundreds of times each second throughout the life of the battery”.   Qnovo also claims that during the process, it recognises when it can charge the battery faster, without harming its health. This helps speed up charging, while improving the battery life by minimising damage due to harmful deposits.  The company claims that smartphones can gain up to six hours of use with just a 15-minute recharge.   According to MIT Technology Review, Qnovo CEO Nadim Maluf predicts that the company’s technology will be available on some smartphones next year. With this technology, phone makers can boost battery lives by embedding Qnovo’s charging software on their devices.