KTH ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CA, USA. A foam-like, elastic battery material that can defy stress and shock has been created with the use of an innovative method that involves making high-capacity elastic batteries from the pulp of wood.
Max Hamedi, a researcher from KTH, together with KTH Professor Lars Wågberg and Professor Yi Cui from Stanford University developed the use of nanocellulose, broken down from tree fibers, in making soft and high-capacity batteries.
It is now possible to create great materials from cellulose and trees. One of the major benefits of this new wood-based aerogel material is that it can be used for three-dimensional structures. Since making thin batteries is no longer restricted to two dimensions, they can now be made in 3 dimensions that will allow more electronics to fit in a smaller or limited space.
Both 3D and porous materials allow more flexibility in designing batteries. Producing the material starts with breaking down tree fibers that will make them close to a million times thinner. The nanocellulose is then dissolved and free-dried to allow the moisture to evaporate without going through a liquid state. The material then undergoes a process wherein the molecules are stabilized so that the material does not collapse.
This results to a material that is foam-like but more porous, lighter and harder. It can even be touched without breaking. The finished aerogel can be treated with electronic properties. It can be pressed for as much as needed and it is impervious to shock and stress.
These new aerogel batteries can be utilized even in clothing provided that the garment has a lining. It can also be used in bodies of electric cars. This innovation will definitely pave the way for more three-dimensional structures or electronics that will not be restricted to limited space.
| Invention | Using Trees in Creating 3D, Soft, High Capacity and Elastic Batteries |
|---|---|
| Organization | KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stanford University |
| Researcher(s) | Professor Lars Wågberg, Professor Yi Cui, Max Hamedi & Team |
| Field(s) | Soft Electronics, Aerogel Batteries, Supercapacitors, Three-Dimensional Batteries, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stanford University |
| Further Information | https://www.kth.se/en/aktuellt/nyheter/de-har-uppfunnit-mjuk-elektronik-1.569410 |
Image courtesy of pixabay.com
