AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA. After five years of hard work, a research team has developed a new material made from titanium dioxide that can store large amounts of energy which can replace current capacitors being used to store renewable energy. Capacitors (also known as fundamental electrical components) are made using dielectric materials. Most types of capacitors being used nowadays have certain limitations that keep it from maximizing its capabilities.
With the new material, we will surely be able to see significant changes in the way capacitors store energy. Some practical applications that could benefit from the new material include space technologies, electric cars and many different types of renewable energy storage.
During the tests, the researchers were able to determine that the new metal oxide dielectric material was able to outperform most of the capacitors that are being commonly used today. It was able to store large amounts of energy and at the same time, it worked efficiently in different temperatures ranging from -190°C to 180°C. The best part about the new material is that it can produce quality capacitors in huge amounts at a cheaper price as compared to the components that are being used to manufacture the current type of capacitors.
Associate Professor Yun Liu of the Australian National University Research School of Chemistry and her team of researchers say that their new material has huge potential. She also claims that it will remove current energy storage limitations and will open the door for even more innovative developments in the field of renewable energy.
Another notable characteristic about the supercapacitor that the new material will produce is the capability to store energy effectively in balance with the demand for power at any given time. That means there will be lesser wasted energy during the time that the stored energy is not being used.
They are looking into developing more applications for the new material in the near future. They are claiming that it won’t take long until the new material hits the consumer market. For sure, it will make huge waves for being friendly to the environment, non-toxic and abundant.
| Invention | Metal Oxide Dielectric Material |
|---|---|
| Organization | Australian National University, Canberra, Australia |
| Researcher | Professor Yun Liu & Team |
| Field(s) | ANU, Australian National University, capacitors, supercapcitors, dielectric material, renewable energy, energy storage |
| Further Information | http://phys.org/news/2013-07-material-big-energy.html |
