Washington, Nov 18 (IANS): Scientists are closer to developing a cellphone battery that will take just 15 minutes to recharge and last more than a week.

A team of Northwestern University engineers created an electrode for lithium-ion batteries, used in cellphones and iPods, that allows holding a charge up to ten times greater than current technology.

Batteries with the new electrode also can charge 10 times faster than current batteries, the journal Advanced Energy Materials reported.

"We have found a way to extend a new lithium-ion battery's charge life by ten times," said Harold H. Kung, researcher, a university statement said.

"Even after 150 charges, which would be one year or more of operation, the battery is still five times more effective than lithium-ion batteries on the market today," Kung said.

Researchers combined two chemical engineering approaches to address two major battery limitations - energy capacity and charge rate.

Besides better batteries for cellphones and iPods, the technology could pave the way for more efficient, smaller batteries for electric cars.

The technology could be seen in the marketplace in the next three to five years, the researchers said.