Laser-writing technique can help manufacturers create micro energy storage and conversion units; possibilities are ‘endless,’ researchers say
In the race to design smaller handheld devices and smartphones, a key factor is decreasing the sizes of components. As the demand for thinner and lighter microelectronic devices increases, manufacturers often are limited by how oddly shaped the energy sources must become to make them conform to the smaller space. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri, have developed a method of transferring an energy source to virtually any shape. Using an efficient laser-writing technique, MU scientists can help smartphone manufacturers potentially fabricate energy storage units like microbatteries and micro fuel cells that are more environmentally friendly, highly designable and thin.
“The direct laser writing (DLW) method and technique has seen a rapid advancement in the past decade,” said Jian Lin, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the MU College of Engineering. “The main goal of our research was to find an efficient and cost-effective way to integrate nanostructures with micro energy storage units for applications in micro-electronics. Our lab decided to test whether catalysts could be synthesized and patterned on any surface by a one-step laser processing method to produce microbatteries and micro fuel cells in the shapes dictated by computer programs.”
With this in mind, Lin and his team, including Heng (Henry) Deng, a doctoral candidate at MU, set out to prove their theory. They adapted the DLW method to synthesize and pattern hybrid nanocatalysts, or fuel sources, into complex geometric shapes. Using computer-controlled laser writing that uses higher heat and pressure, the scientists were able to produce a surface that became electrically conducive and also has catalytic functionalities.
“This is the first step in manufacturing micro fuel cells that convert chemical energy into electrical energy and batteries that can integrate into microcircuits” said Lin. “Also this technique has been proven to produce microsupercapacitors. By honing the process, handheld device and smartphone manufacturers will be able to produce components in whatever shape or size they choose, greatly impacting the size of these devices. Also, manufacturers will be able to choose more environmentally friendly catalysts for generating energy such as hydrogen or oxygen, which are considered cleaner fuels. The possibilities will be endless.”
Learn more: Engineers Adapt Laser Method to Create Micro Energy Units
The Latest on: Micro energy storage
[google_news title=”” keyword=”micro energy storage” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Micro energy storage
- Duke Energy proposes lower power bills for customerson April 29, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Customers of Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. should see monthly bills trimmed in June because of lower-than-expected natural gas costs, state Public Service Commission staff members have ...
- Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — May 2024on April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The simplified environmental review process includes certain energy storage systems such as battery systems ... Owned E-Mobility Expanding E-Mobility Solutions through Electrified Micro, Light and ...
- A Stretchy, Rubber-Like Energy Storage Device for Wearable Techon April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The advent of wearable technology has brought with it a pressing need for energy storage solutions that can keep pace with the flexibility and stretchability of soft electronic devices. Micro ...
- Schneider Electric Releases All-In-One Battery Energy Storage System for Microgridson April 25, 2024 at 9:13 am
Schneider Electric today announced a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) designed and engineered to be a part of a flexible, scalable, and highly ...
- Rubber-like stretchable energy storage device fabricated with laser precisionon April 24, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in developing a small-scale energy storage device capable of stretching, twisting, folding, and wrinkling. Their study is published in the journal ...
- Rubber-like stretchable energy storage device fabricated with laser precisionon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The advent of wearable technology has brought with it a pressing need for energy storage solutions that can keep pace with the flexibility and stretchability of soft electronic devices.
- Scientists explore the feasibility of micro black-hole batterieson April 22, 2024 at 7:39 am
Physicists theorize that tiny black holes could be generated to produce clean energy in the race to create better batteries.
- How solar power is helping bridge the energy access gap and empowering communitieson April 21, 2024 at 11:25 pm
By leveraging policy support and addressing the challenges through collaboration of Government, industry, academia, and civil society, India can bring common man in the fold of green energy transition ...
- The Future of Energy Storage: Black Hole-Based Batteries, A Conceptual Leapon April 21, 2024 at 3:14 am
Amidst the escalating urgency to develop sustainable energy solutions, scientists are exploring some unconventional concepts that seem straight out of science fiction. While we inch forward in ...
- Solar and Storage Combo Drives Decarbonization for new Watertown Life Sciences R&D Complexon April 19, 2024 at 12:30 pm
The 66 Galen development will draw part of its power from 252kW in direct current solar capacity and a 125-kW energy storage system. 66 Galen also is LEED gold-certified and ...
via Bing News