Graphene sheets. Credit: Gengping Jiang
Posted on 07/15/2011 10:34:12 AM PDT by Red Badger
A combination of two ordinary materials – graphite and water – could produce energy storage systems that perform on par with lithium ion batteries, but recharge in a matter of seconds and have an almost indefinite lifespan.
Dr. Dan Li, of the Monash University Department of Materials Engineering, and his research team have been working with a material called graphene, which could form the basis of the next generation of ultrafast energy storage systems.
“Once we can properly manipulate this material, your iPhone, for example, could charge in a few seconds, or possibly faster.” said Dr. Li.
Graphene is the result of breaking down graphite, a cheap, readily available material commonly used in pencils, into layers one atom thick. In this form, it has remarkable properties.
Graphene is strong, chemically stable, an excellent conductor of electricity and, importantly, has an extremely high surface area.
Dr. Li said these qualities make graphene highly suitable for energy storage applications.
“The reason graphene isn’t being used everywhere is that these very thin sheets, when stacked into a usable macrostructure, immediately bond together, reforming graphite. When graphene restacks, most of the surface area is lost and it doesn’t behave like graphene anymore.”
Now, Dr. Li and his team have discovered the key to maintaining the remarkable properties of separate graphene sheets: water. Keeping graphene moist – in gel form – provides repulsive forces between the sheets and prevents re-stacking, making it ready for real-world application.
“The technique is very simple and can easily be scaled up. When we discovered it, we thought it was unbelievable. We’re taking two basic, inexpensive materials – water and graphite – and making this new nanomaterial with amazing properties,” said Dr. Li.
When used in energy devices, graphene gel significantly outperforms current carbon-based technology, both in terms of the amount of charge stored and how fast the charges can be delivered.
Dr. Li said the benefits of developing this new nanotechnology extend beyond consumer electronics.
“High-speed, reliable and cost-effective energy storage systems are critical for the future viability of electricity from renewable resources. These systems are also the key to large-scale adoption of electrical vehicles.
“Graphene gel is also showing promise for use in water purification membranes, biomedical devices and sensors.”
Graphene sheets. Credit: Gengping Jiang
Auto battery ping!...............
|
We obviously need all the carbon we can get our hands on!................
Graphene is a special form of carbon..............
Reminds me of buckyballs
Reminds me of buckyballs
they are similar except that bucky balls are 3 dimensional instead of planar like graphene is in structure...
Except that these are flat.
Graphite is a 2 dimensional diamond. sort of...
Guess that's why they "remind" me of them:)
Isn't it amazing what the mind of man can do? We, especially Americans, are so good at finding solutions for problems. When we are given the freedom to create and invent.
There are examples to this, of course. The main example being Obama who could never invent or create a damn thing.
save read later
Meant to say “exceptions” instead of “example”.
BFLR ...
An extremely high surface area. WTH does that mean?
Seems like every year or so, we hear about “break through battery technology” to “far surpass lithium,” but nothing every comes from it.
Hope this one is different.
Dr Dan LiRight.
Qualifications:
BSc, MS - Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China
Ph. D - University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
If there’s money to be made, it will. Count on it. If this technology is as good as they say, a 10 minute ‘fill-up’ on your electric car might be a reality soon................
I realize that this fellow was not an American. My point is still a good one. FYI, take a gander where this guy was schooled:
Qualifications:
BSc, MS - Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China Ph. D - University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Positions held:
ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow, University of Wollongong (2006-)
Research Fellow, University of Washington/Philip Morris, USA (2005-2006)
California NanoSystems Institute/Hewlett-Packard Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles (2004-2005)
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Washington (2002-2004)
Associate Professor, Nanjing University of Science and Technology (2001-2002)
Research interests:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.