Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claimed on Wednesday that they have developed a new battery technology for lithium batteries that could open the way for smaller, faster-charging lightweight batteries for cell phones and other mobile devices.

The MIT scientists claimed that they have transformed the existing battery material to create a "beltway" that helps faster transition of electrical charge.

In a statement, MIT reported that Guided by Professor Gerbrand Cedar, a group of MIT scientists has discovered lithium ions that carry electricity to battery, and according to the scientists, the lithium ions can move much faster if they are aligned with tunnels that can be accessed from the surface of the battery. The scientists used lithium iron phosphate that carries the charge much faster to the batteries.     

The paper published in the March 12 issue of scientific journal Nature stated that traditionally lithium batteries are used in cell phones and other mobile devices, but these batteries take too much time for charging. The MIT scientists conducted study on lithium batteries and found that the problem was not in the lithium, but in the substrate around.

The paper reported that the battery, which can be fully charged and discharged in less than 20 seconds, was developed by the team of Scientists including Professor Gerbrand Ceder, Richard P. Simmons Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and Byoungwoo Kang, a graduate student in materials science and engineering. The new batteries could be available for public in two or three years.

“The ability to charge and discharge batteries in a matter of seconds rather than hours may open up new technological applications and induce lifestyle changes," Ceder and Kang said.