Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | EP/J013609/1 | |
| Title | A high performance energy storage device using novel patented electrode technology. | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 50%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr E Sivaniah No email address given Physics University of Cambridge |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 05 July 2012 | |
| End Date | 31 August 2013 | |
| Duration | 13 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £116,467 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy; Manufacturing | |
| Region | East of England | |
| Programme | Non Theme Specific | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr E Sivaniah , Physics, University of Cambridge (100.000%) |
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Cambridge Enterprise (0.000%) Project Contact , New Venture Partners (0.000%) Project Contact , Touchstone Innovations (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | There has been significant research investment into alternative methods of energy production that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. With the exception of nuclear or neo-fossil fuels (e.g. biofuels), these resources (e.g. solar, wind) are neither generated nor converted into useful forms of energy (electric or mechanical) at the 'point of use' or 'on-demand' and require storage and a substantial delivery network. Battery technology will be an intrinsic part of the development of alternative energy strategies. However battery technology, whilst boasting large storage capability, is an essentially electrochemical process, and requires significant charging-up times. Therefore one cannot currently recharge electric car batteries as quickly as filling up a car with petrol. Equally, low capacity and high recharge-times of batteries in mobile devices (lap-tops, mobile phones) limits their ability to contain more functionality. It is obvious that the next breakthrough technology in mobile devices will be in their power packs.Supercapacitors are strong contenders to provide both high capacity and fast storage/release of energy. Capacitors, as every sixth form science student is aware, can store charge between two electrodes separated by an insulator (the dielectric). The key difference in supercapacitors is that the dielectric is an inherent part of each electrode, and charge is stored within nanoporous pathways within the dielectric. Moving or storing charge without an electrochemical change ( the method of storage in conventional batteries) means supercapacitor charge/discharge rates are fast leading to high power densities. Therefore supercapacitors using dielectrics with large surface area densities (i.e. internal surface per unit volume) from nanoporous materials will have energy densities resembling batteries whilst retaining the fast discharge/charge rates of supercapacitors.In this proposal, we use a radical new patented technology to generate dielectrics with high surface area densities. This is accomplished by introducing highly interconnected nanoscale pores into the materials in a controlled, reliably repeatable way. Certainly making nanoporous materials is not a new idea in itself. However existing methods are either expensive, or too unreliable. Our patent describes a way to do this, that using cheap materials, fast process-times and good reproducibility. This will be important in taking supercapacitor technology, which has been proved in the laboratory, and making it economically viable as a consumer product | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 19/09/12 | |
