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Technion Researchers Develop Silicon-Air Battery Capable of Working Non-Stop Thousands of Hours |
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Written by Technion user
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Monday, 23 November 2009 11:21 |
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Engineering has been researching metal-air batteries for many years. The batteries we are familiar with have a positive (+) electrode called a cathode and a negative electrode (-) called an anode. The two are separated by a divider in which there is a liquid containing ions (electrolyte). “In metal-air batteries there is a significant saving in weight and costs because they actually do not have a built-in cathode,” he explains. “In this battery, the cathode is the oxygen that comes from the atmosphere through the membrane (this is the battery used for example for hearing aids because it is light and long-lasting). There were attempts in the past to upgrade this battery both for electric cars and for portable electronic devices. Lately, this received renewed impetus when Toyota and Panasonic began joint efforts to adapt the zinc-air battery for future electronic cars.”
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) along with commercial companies, among them IBM and Tesla Motors, and with the encouragement of American government, are trying to develop rechargeable lithium-air batteries that are capable of reaching ten times the energy density of existing technologies (they will work ten times more or enable traveling ten times farther). Prof. Ein Eli proposes using silicon-air batteries. “Silicon is a more common material, not dangerous, more stable, light weight and has high energy capacity (four electrons are transferred during oxidation of a single silicon atom). We actually turned it into sand (silicon dioxide) during battery usage. This will be a non-rechargeable battery like similar batteries around today,” he explains.
This kind of battery, with an unlimited shelf life, will be good for use in medicine (for example in pumps for diabetics or in hearing aids) and in electronics as a built-in part of a structure entirely from silicon. The innovative battery can supply energy for thousands of working hours without need for replacement.
The work on developing the silicon-air battery was financed by the Bi-National Research Fund, with the participation of doctoral student Gil Cohen and Dr. David Starosvetsky from the Technion and Prof. Digby Macdonald from Penn State in the US.
Pictured: Prof. Yair Ein-Eli
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International School of Engineering Opens at the Technion |
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Written by Technion user
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Monday, 23 November 2009 11:14 |
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The Technion’s Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering has launched an international program in infrastructure and environmental engineering. The program will be conducted in English and is intended for students from abroad. This year, the first class started with 23 students and will be, in the words of Prof. Arnon Bentur, dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering: “the nucleus for attaining a vision of setting up an international school in all engineering fields at the Technion, within whose framework, within a decade, will be studying 1,000 students from all corners of the world.”
The four women students and 19 males come from 14 countries on five continents – North America (the US and Canada), South America (Uruguay and Peru), Europe (Italy, Denmark, France, Spain and Albania), Africa (South Africa, Ghana and Guinea) and Asia (China and India). 30% of the students in the Technion’s new International School are from developing countries.
Technion President Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig said that the event is a milestone in the annals of the Technion. “You will be proud to be the first class of this school,” he said turning to the students. “You are pioneers.”
Pictured (from right to left): Technion President Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig, Uri Dori and incoming Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie.
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MoU between the Technion and TU Delft |
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Written by Technion user
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Monday, 23 November 2009 11:05 |
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On the 4th of November 2009, a new step towards cooperation between Israel and the Netherlands was taken at TU Delft. An official MoU signing ceremony took place in the Executive Board Meeting room located on Cornelis Drebbelweg 9.
Before the signing ceremony, H.E. Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz, the Minister of Science and Technology of Israel was warmly received by the Mayor of Delft Mr. Bas Verkerk. This was indeed a great example of Dutch hospitality.
Pictured: the Technion delegation together with the Minister of Science and Technology of Israel received by the Mayor of Delft
After the meeting with the Mayor, H.E. Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz witnessed the MoU signing at TU Delft. Rector Magnificus of TU Delft – Prof.dr.ir. J.T. Fokkema signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of TU Delft and Prof. Raphael Rom represented the Technion at this meeting.
 
Pictured: the signing ceremony at TU Delft
We, as the Technion Society of the Netherlands, are looking forward to a very fruitful cooperation between two best technical educational institutions in Israel and the Netherlands!
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Last Updated on Monday, 23 November 2009 11:13 |
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