London, April 14:

Remember the scare last year caused by some Nokia batteries that were found to be overheating while charging — leading to their worldwide recall? Such scares will soon be a thing of the past.

German researchers have developed a safer lithium-ion battery that is virtually non-inflammable, addressing concerns of mobile phones users worldwide.

The new prototype is based on a polymer electrolyte, which unlike liquid electrolyte in conventional cell phone batteries is not inflammable. Lithium-ion batteries power cell phones and PDAs and larger devices like laptops, cordless screwdrivers and lawnmowers. But they are inflammable.