Rice
University researchers who have developed a supercapacitor that can operate at
very high temperatures, using clay as a key ingredient.
The
supercapacitor is reliable at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius (392
degrees Fahrenheit), and could be useful for powering devices for use in
extreme environments, such as oil drilling, the military and space, Rice
scientist Pulickel Ajayan reported in Nature’s online journal, Scientific
Reports (open access),
“Our
intention is to completely move away from conventional liquid or gel-type
electrolytes, which have been limited to low-temperature operation of
electrochemical devices,” said Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, lead author and a
former research scientist at Rice.
“By
allowing safe operation over a wide range of temperatures without compromising
on high energy, power and cycle life, we believe we can dramatically enhance or
even eliminate the need for expensive thermal management systems.”
A
supercapacitor combines the best qualities of capacitors that charge in seconds
and discharge energy in a burst and rechargeable batteries that charge slowly
but release energy on demand over time. The ideal supercapacitor would charge
quickly, store energy and release it as needed.
“Researchers
have been trying for years to make energy storage devices like batteries and
supercapacitors that work reliably in high-temperature environments, but this
has been challenging, given the traditional materials used to build these
devices,” Ajayan said.
http://news.rice.edu/2013/09/03/clay-key-to-high-temperature-supercapacitors/
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