Curtin University research has found a simple and affordable method to determine which chemicals and types of metals are best used to store and supply energy, in a breakthrough for any battery-run devices and technologies reliant on the fast and reliable supply of electricity, including smart phones and tablets.<\/p>\n
Lead author Associate Professor Simone Ciampi from Curtin\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences said this easy, low-cost method of determining how to produce and retain the highest energy charge in a capacitor, could be of great benefit to all scientists, engineers and start-ups looking to solve the energy storage challenges of the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll electronic devices require an energy source. While a battery needs to be recharged over time, a capacitor can be charged instantaneously because it stores energy by separating charged ions, found in ionic liquids,\u201d Associate Professor Ciampi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are thousands of types of ionic liquids, a type of \u201cliquid salt\u201d, and until now, it was difficult to know which would be best suited for use in a capacitor. What our team has done is devise a quick and easy test, able to be performed in a basic lab, which can measure both the ability to store charge when a solid electrode touches a given ionic liquid \u2013 a simple capacitor \u2013 as well as the stability of the device when it\u2019s charged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe study has also been able to unveil a model that can predict which ionic liquid is likely to be the best performing for fast charging and long-lasting energy storage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research co-author PhD student Mattia Belotti, also from Curtin\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences said the test simply required a relatively basic and affordable piece of equipment, called a potentiostat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe simplicity of this test means anyone can apply it without the need for expensive equipment. Using this method, our research found that charging the device for 60 seconds produced a full charge, which did not \u2018leak\u2019 and begin to diminish for at least four days,\u201d Mr Belotti said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next step will be to use this new screening method to find ionic liquid\/electrode combinations with an even longer duration in the charged state and larger energy density.\u201d<\/p>\n
Funded by the Australian Research Council, the study was led by Curtin University and done in collaboration with the Australian National University and Monash University.<\/p>\n
Other Curtin authors include Mr Xin Lyu, Dr Nadim Darwish, Associate Professor Debbie Silvester and Dr Ching Goh, all from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences.<\/p>\n