New Smartphone Batteries Will Charge To Full In Just 10 Minutes

A hi-tech new smart chip the size of a fingernail could mean that new phones will charge to full in just 10 minutes.

The chip was developed by  Professor Rachid Yazami of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University - and he has already been in talks with companies such as Sony and Samsung.

The chip is small enough to be embedded in most batteries - and speeds up charging by allowing the battery to be charged at full speed.

Professor Yamazi says that current lithium ion batteries are ‘drip fed’ energy to ensure they’re not damaged - but with the new chip, they can be charged far faster.

Professor Yamazi said, ‘Current chargers do not take into account the health of a battery when charging it. They send the same amount of charge regardless of the battery's condition. With this chip, the charge can be regulated to avoid damaging the battery.

‘In addition to knowing the degradation of batteries, our technology can also tell the exact state of charge of the battery, and thus optimise the charging so the battery can be maintained in its best condition while being charged faster.