Green environmentally friendly vehicle concept
3d rendering via Imperial College London
New generation of supercapacitors set to electrify green transportation
Scientists have created a new generation of low-cost, high-energy supercapacitors to power electric vehicles.
Researchers from Imperial College London and University College London (UCL) have produced a cheaper, more sustainable and energy-dense electrode material for supercapacitors which could pave the way for wider market penetration of this high-power, quick charging electric vehicle technology.
“Supercapacitors are an ideal candidate for electric transportation within urban centres, where pollution is an increasingly pressing concern. However, they are often overlooked because of the high cost of production.”
Dr Maria Crespo Ribadeneyra – Department of Chemical Engineering
In the study, published in Advanced Science, the team used lignin, a bio-based by-product of the paper industry, to create free-standing electrodes with enhanced energy storage capacity.
The researchers say that this could be a game-changer for existing supercapacitor technology, providing a cheaper, more sustainable alternative to current models. The team emphasise the importance of reducing the production cost of carbon-based electrodes and the reliance on critical materials if free-standing supercapacitors are to play a major role in decarbonising the transportation industry alongside batteries and fuel cells.
Sustainable materials
Using lignin in place of expensive graphene-based carbon, the team produced a freestanding structure which is lighter and smaller than current models without compromising energy storage capacity. This makes them ideal for use in short-distance electric vehicles like buses, taxis and trams where they have the capacity to charge in the time it takes for passengers to exit and enter a vehicle.
Co-corresponding author Dr Maria Crespo Ribadeneyra from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial said: “Supercapacitors are an ideal candidate for electric transportation within urban centres, where pollution is an increasingly pressing concern. However, they are often overlooked because of the high cost of production.
“Our research is based on a low-cost and sustainable bio-based material that can store more energy per unit volume than many other expensive alternatives. This is particularly important in the automotive sector, where optimisation of the space and the costs of the components is crucial.”
Co-corresponding author Professor Magda Titirici from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial added: “Creating sustainable multifunctional materials from waste biomass streams such as lignin will enable a sustainable and affordable supply chain for energy materials in the future and will eliminate our dependence on critical materials like lithium.
“The idea of pressing several free-standing carbon papers together to store more charge in a small volume is innovative and holds potential for future structural development. Imagine that instead of the electrodes being supported in a phone case or on a car roof, they are the case or roof.”
Tailored microstructures
The innovative technique developed by the team in this study used electrospun lignin nanofibre mats which they compressed together into a dense structure. This enabled them to tailor the internal microstructure of the electrodes by reducing the amount of micrometre-sized pores which do not contribute to energy storage, while retaining the porosity of the individual fibres that do store electric charge. This work was made possible by using advanced imaging similar to x-ray to view the internal microstructures in three dimensions.
Dr Rhodri Jervis from the Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) at UCL and co-author explained: “Tackling the grand challenge of wide-spread electrification will require a variety of energy storage and conversion devices to work in harmony with each other, using advanced and sustainable materials.
“From batteries to fuel cells to supercapacitors, it is key to understand the microstructure of the materials used in these devices in order to make improvements to the current technologies. In our lab we have been developing advanced imaging approaches to view and assess these microstructures in three dimensions, and this work highlights the benefit of 3D imaging for unravelling the potential of new materials in energy storage.”
The research team are now working on ensuring this technology can be made commercially viable. They are currently developing a new supercapacitor with a non-corrosive and more cost-effective electrolyte that could be implementable in commercial devices.
Original Article: New generation of supercapacitors set to electrify green transportation
More from: Imperial College London | University College London
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Supercapacitors
- New Tesla Model Y Battery Tech Might Slash Price
I s it possible that a price cut on the Tesla Model Y is coming in the future? It looks like it could happen thanks to new battery technology in the works that would allow the automaker to cut costs ...
- New All-Electric, 2,040-HP Italian Hypercar Said to Hit 200 MPH in Less Than 10 Seconds
Using a novel setup with quad motors and a battery pack working with supercapacitors, the Fulminea even has decent driving range.We have seen some wild claims and six-figure prices by hypercar ...
- Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market Poised for Remarkable Growth through 2032: Market Expansion Through Innovation and Environmental Stewardship
Dublin, May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market Report by Raw Material, Application, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering ...
- Chicken fat supercapacitors could store green energy of the future
The soot from burning off rendered chicken fat can be made into supercapacitors. Deposit Photos SHARE. As vital as it is for society to transition to renewable energy, it’s not ...
- Scientists Convert Chicken Fat Into Energy Storage Devices
The global move toward more sustainable, green energy has increased power reserves and the demand for energy storage devices. Unfortunately, some materials for these devices can be expensive and ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Supercapacitors
[google_news title=”” keyword=”supercapacitors” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Powering electric vehicles
- Power restored to most affected by deadly Houston storm, with the rest by Wednesday
Houston area residents affected by deadly storms last week that left at least seven dead have finally received some good news. Officials say power was restored by Sunday evening to ...
- Korean Firms Eyes EV Charging Market: Big Names Race to Power US Electric Cars
You might also like Manual Magic or Marketing Mirage? Porsche 911 Turbo Manual Rumor Raises Question Federal Judge Allows Class-Action Suit Against Tesla Over Self-Driving Claims Jaguar Bids Farewell ...
- The Vibes Lie: Electric Vehicles Accelerate Toward 50% Of Global Sales
Surging demand for clean, cheap EVs across the rest of this decade will completely change the global auto industry. By 2035, IEA projects 50% of all cars sold globally will be EVs, cutting oil demand ...
- These 12 States Are Banning the Sale of Gas-Powered Cars
California is gearing up to prohibit the sale of new gas-powered cars -- and other states are playing follow the leader.A measure approved by the California Air Resources Board in August 2022 requires ...
- 5 Ways Performance EVs Have ICE-Powered Cars Licked
Here are five major advantages of electric vehicles over their ICE-powered counterparts, specifically relating to performance and forgetting about practical things like fuel economy. Continue reading ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Powering electric vehicles
[google_news title=”” keyword=”powering electric vehicles” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]