Posted on 09/30/2011 7:33:05 PM PDT by dangerdoc
Researchers from the National University of Singapore's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) have created what they claim is the world's first energy-storage membrane. Not only is the material soft and foldable, but it doesn't incorporate liquid electrolytes that can spill out if it's damaged, it's more cost-effective than capacitors or traditional batteries, and it's reportedly capable of storing more energy.
The membrane is made from a polystyrene-based polymer, which is sandwiched between two metal plates. When charged by those plates, it can store the energy at a rate of 0.2 farads per square centimeter - standard capacitors, by contrast, can typically only manage an upper limit of 1 microfarad per square centimeter.
Due in part to the membrane's low fabrication costs, the cost of storing energy in it reportedly works out to 72 cents US per farad. According to the researchers, the cost for standard liquid electrolyte-based batteries is more like US$7 per farad. This in turn translates to an energy cost of 2.5 watt-hours per US dollar for lithium-ion batteries, whereas the membrane comes in at 10-20 watt-hours per dollar.
Details on how the material works, along with data on factors such as charging/discharging times and longevity have not yet been released. Principle investigator Dr. Xie Xian Ning, however, has stated "The performance of the membrane surpasses those of rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion and lead-acid batteries, and supercapacitors."
The NUSNNI team is now looking into opportunities for commercializing the technology.
interesting to see where it could lead if it does work
One of these days we’ll have the breakthrough we need. Getting the energy density without the weight... Changes everything.
Maybe a great place to store our coal generated power.
Well there's your problem.
So basically per given size you could store 200,000 times more energy than a capacitor. I wonder what the max non destructive discharge current is. If it can be really high then these might make electric vehicles much more feasible.
Or instantly turn into plasma. Hmmm, plasma grenades......
Obama is prepared to give up to $1T to any Democrat donor who starts a company to manufacture these things for the electric car industry.
I’d like to know the costs of producing this material.
It doesn’t help much if it is going to be tens of dollars to make this stuff when it costs just pennies to make lthium batteries.
It could make tasers obsolete.
“...a polystyrene-based polymer, which is sandwiched between two metal plates...”
My God! They’ve invented the capacitor! </S>
bflr
Get your farads, damn cheap!
From the article:
“Due in part to the membrane’s low fabrication costs, the cost of storing energy in it reportedly works out to 72 cents US per farad. According to the researchers, the cost for standard liquid electrolyte-based batteries is more like US$7 per farad. This in turn translates to an energy cost of 2.5 watt-hours per US dollar for lithium-ion batteries, whereas the membrane comes in at 10-20 watt-hours per dollar.”
The precondition is: The company must create at least 37 new union jobs over the next 50 years. /s
That is very cheap.
No doubt the EPA must put a stop to it immediately.
ping.
Wow coulombs too cheap to meter! I wonder what the breakdown voltage is?
Would it make solar more feasible too?
Would it make solar more feasible?
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