| New Material Claimed to Store More Energy and Cost Less Money Than Batteries |
| This Singaporean technology could become smaller, cheaper, and more powerful than batteries. |
| BEN COXWORTH - GizMag |
| 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 ... |
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Comments: 25
As I've driven my new Chevy Volt, it has occurred to me how logical it is to extend the Volt's range by using either materials like this, or a hydrogen fuel cell, or a lithium air battery. These, of course, are arenas ripe for future development - but the incremental progress is very encouraging.
If true, this is the breakthrough that will make electric vehicles competitive with fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. But it also will make solar and wind power more practical, since unused energy collected during the day, or during windy periods, can be stored for later use.
Now, if someone would come up with a cheap, highly efficient solar PV cell...
Better Lithium-Ion Batteries Are On the Way
"When charged by those plates, it can store the energy at a rate of 0.2 farads per square centimeter."
This is a nonsensical statement. Energy is not measured in farads. Farad is a measure of capacitance. Energy and capacitance are related by the equation:
Q = CE
Where Q is charge (in coulombs), C is capacitance in farads, and E is voltage in volts.
The total charge on a capacitor, Q, is a measure of the electrical energy stored, but as you can see it depends on both capacitance and voltage. So the question is, what is the voltage rating of this thing? The higher the rating, the higher the energy storage capacity.
The other breakthrough we need is cheap, high efficiency PV solar panels.
When every roof in the country has a solar panel and every garage has at least one battery-powered car, we will be well on our way to energy independence and the long-term solution to global warming. I just hope it's not too late...
I have tried in my own small way to help it happen - by buying what is available now. I previously drove a Honda Insight (hybrid), and now I have a Volt (my new icon). Almost immediately, after buying the Volt, I could see how easily range could be extended by a hydrogen fuel cess, instead of a gas generator. But progress advances incrementally.
I am not very optimistic about using H as a fuel for vehicles.
If this, or some other comparable energy storage device is real, it should be easy to build such a vehicle.
Electric Cars?...Or Hydrogen Cars?
I went back and looked at your article. I don't disagree there are barriers. I'm just saying the technology is advancing.
I have read some of Amory Lovins' writings. I'll have a look at his new book. Thanks for the info.
Using 10 w-h/$, this translates to $100 per KW-h.
For an EV battery, a capacity of at least 50 KW-h is required, so that's a $5K battery. Expensive, but less than Li-ion batteries.
You might think 50 KW-h is excessive, but as I said above, the capacitor voltage drops as it is discharged, and at some point the voltage will be too low to be usable. I suspect that when the voltage reaches half of the maximum value it will be too low to give decent performance in the vehicle. But 3/4 of the energy will be used at that point.
The equation for energy in a capacitor is:
E - 1/2 CV^2
So only around 40 KW-h can be used in a capacitor holding 50 KW-h.
A capacitor is actually a better choice for energy storage than a battery. It can be charged and discharged quickly without heating up...ideal for an EV.
Looking at the equation above, the voltage rating is obviously crucial.
Doubling the voltage would quadruple the energy capacity.
Based on their numbers, I calculate their voltage rating is 225-317 volts.
(Depending on whether you use 10 or 20 w-h/$)