Posted on 02/23/2013 12:51:19 PM PST by Para-Ord.45
Some of the great scientific breakthroughs of the last century came about entirely by accident. Many of you are probably familiar with the origins of the Post It Note, and how it was invented as a result of a failure when attempting to create a super strong adhesive. Well, there may be another such story taking place in the present day. Scientists working with carbon compounds developed Graphene, a safe substance with a lot of structural strength for very little mass and weight. And then some wise guy discovered that it had another use.
The recap: Graphene, a very simple carbon polymer, can be used as the basic component of a “supercapacitor” — an electrical power storage device that charges far more rapidly than chemical batteries. Unlike other supercapacitors, though, graphene’s structure also offers a high “energy density,” — it can hold a lot of electrons, meaning that it could conceivably rival or outperform batteries in the amount of charge it can hold. Kaner Lab researcher Maher El-Kady found a way to create sheets of graphene a single carbon atom thick by covering a plastic surface with graphite oxide solution and bombarding it with precisely controlled laser light. That last sentence may sound pretty complicated, but the article’s author provides a translation for the layman.
He painted a DVD with a liquid carbon solution and stuck it into a standard-issue DVD burner. The result was a shockingly thin supercapacitor which could store up a large amount of electrical energy in no time flat. The potential for this sort of discovery should be obvious. Unlike heavy metal batteries, the carbon compound is biodegradable and cheap to manufacture. And a battery made of layers of this material could charge your cell phone for a full day’s use in – wait for it – two seconds. A ramped up version could charge an electric car in a minute or two. (No word on how likely it will be to catch on fire, but bonus points if it doesn’t.)
Here’s the video I mentioned. It’s not long and explains the process better than I ever could. I have to say, this is pretty exciting stuff if it comes to fruition.
http://vimeo.com/51873011
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I’m still looking up the ED of ANFO and smokeless powder.
Hmmmm, I’m thinking of a 3 or 4 stage coil gun, compressed air to get the copper slug moving and I’m thinking a 200 grain slug moving at say 3,000 ft/second. No powder, no bang very little noise. Just the crack of the bullet.
Now if you could spin the bullet prior to launch so the bullet is gyroscopicly stable then you would really have something.
Who said anything about doubting it would succeed? I was just pointing out (as requested) the Achilles Heel of capacitors.
It’s not insurmountable or we’d not have but a tenth of the electronic tech we have today. But it’s the big problem with capacitors.
One of the problems of using super capacitors for energy storage is that they have much higher self discharge rates than batteries. I can see applications using super capacitors and batteries together in order to take advantage of the best features of each.
One of the problems of using super capacitors for energy storage is that they have much higher self discharge rates than batteries. I can see applications using super capacitors and batteries together in order to take advantage of the best features of each.
LOL!! Boy, the stories I can tell you about accidentally shorting and blowing up capacitors while working on amplifiers and other equipment. A decent sized capacitor sounds like a gun going off when it pops.
On a more serious note, Capacitors are not meant for storing electricity on a long term basis. Yes, they charge quickly at high voltages but you're not going to run a car on a "charged capacitor."
This isn't "back to the future" and there's no such thing as a flux capacitor. Yet another "breakthrough battery scam" IMO.
I know. But if this thing does have promise, maybe they could develop a super absorbent sink or barrier to go along with it. Just in case.
Our activities were more about intended discharge, to illuminate photographic chemical reactions and record the event.
Many screwdrivers met their maker....
Smokeless powder =~ 4 compared to gasoline at ~45.
bookmark.
ANFO 6.3
LOL! Mine however were not, and it didn't take but one or two instances of blowing a cap to correct what I was doing wrong.
When an old capacitor blows out in an amplifier, it's quite a mess to clean up. You learn to short the coil to the chassis and discharge the cap before reaching in and ............... BANG! happens.
After seeing several melt, it sometimes helps to go have one to drink.
And look what electricity did to that poor elephant.
LOL at toy computers. My first looked like a sewing machine carrier.
I remember the building days as well.
Now I couldn’t tell you anything about the new ones.
THAT’s why I stay out of CRT cases....;-)
What are the odds?
Makes sense.
The graphene capacitor linked to standard type batteries which constantly draw a current.
But like the Freepers state, problems in cold/hot temps, driving around in your electric car with a cap/bomb under your butt.
I wouldn`t want to be the first to own one. Look at the suckers who bought a Fisker :-)
One wouls have to review energy density (mass and volume) along with cost of ownership.
One would have to review energy density (mass and volume) along with cost of ownership.
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