University of Cambridge scientists have developed a new lithium-air (Li-air) battery design that could be the first practical alternative to the lithium-ion battery common in CE devices. The scientists discovered a workaround to the limitations of earlier iterations by engineering a lithium iodide and water-based electrolyte that is light and porous. The result is a design that “is 90 percent more efficient than conventional Li-ion batteries and capable of over 2,000 recharge cycles (compared to Li-ion’s several hundred),” reports Digital Trends. However, the new battery requires pure oxygen, and has a risk of exploding while charging. Still, the team remains confident, and consumer Li-air batteries could be a decade away (it took 20 years to triple the capacity of Lithium-ion batteries).