New display technology by Bodle may solve battery issues

Bodle Technologies has created a material that can reduce the energy required to power a smartphone's display. The material uses electrical pulses to create vivid displays that use almost no power, and can be viewed clearly, even under direct sunlight. This invention could greatly improve the battery life of a phone, as a large percentage of a device’s battery is used to power the display. Bodle Technologies has also developed a low-cost manufacturig method which could create prototypes within a year. In addition, the company secured an undisclosed but “significant” amount of financial support from Oxford University’s innovation investment arm, Oxford Sciences Innovation fund.

Bodle is in talks with some of the world’s largest consumer electronics corporations for use of the technology. Dr. Peiman Hosseini, Founder of Bodle Technologies, said, “You have to charge smartwatches every night, which is slowing adoption. But if you had a smartwatch or smart glass that didn’t need much power, you could recharge it just once a week.” He explained that the material can be used to create 'smart windows', which can keep buildings cool without the need for air conditioning. This could save up to 20 percent of energy costs. He also said that the technology might be used to create non-replicable holograms, thus tackling counterfeits.

Improving battery life or decreasing the time it takes for battery to charge is the next important step for electronic manufacturers. Some devices, such as the Yotaphone and the Pebble smartwatch, use e-ink displays to order to improve battery life, while others like Lenovo are making phones with larger batteries. Most manufacturers are shifting to other technologies like USB Type-C, or Quick Charge, to decrease the time it takes to charge a phone. Huawei’s research and development subsidiary, Watt Lab, showcased a prototype lithium-ion battery that can be charged in just five minutes. The battery uses atoms of graphite bonded to the anode in order to speed up the charging process. However, the charging unit that they showcased was quite bulky and Huawei didn’t say when the technology will make its way into the market