Energy Storage

Researchers at Rice University have developed a lithium-ion battery that can be painted on virtually any surface.

It is well known that conventional supercapacitors provide very high power output with minimal degradation in performance. However, they have always had fairly limited energy storage capacity.

Stanford University scientists have breathed new life into the nickel-iron battery, a rechargeable technology developed by Thomas Edison more than a century ago.

An innovative design developed by a researcher at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for flow batteries—rechargeable energy systems that can be used to store electric energy produced by wind and solar power installations—has received a 2012 Catalyst Award from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

SEMICON West 2012 Preview

Infinite Power Solutions, Inc. demonstrate a new battery technology to replace conventional lithium-ion batteries and redefine the design of smart phones, tablets and other consumer devices by enabling thinner form factors and better performance.

Startup company Boulder Ionics is has developed a new high-throughput, low-cost synthesis platform for producing ionic liquid electrolytes for use in advanced energy storage devices.

Washington State University researchers have developed a new technology that could triple the capacity of lithium-ion batteries.

IDTechEx believes that the market action now lies with supercabatteries based on lithium-ion technology and commonly referred to as lithium capacitors because lithium-ion capacitors now have the largest market value.

Initially, the project will exploit the potential of non vacuum processes based in nanostructured materials as electrochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline precursors and printing of nanoparticle based inks, as well as novel chemical based deposition processes for the development of modules on large area substrates with improved uniformity and at lower production costs.

Sales of hybrid bus drive systems in China and contributions from a stop-start idle elimination system for autos in Europe and various backup power applications have enabled Maxwell to achieve sustainable year over year growth.

A team of scientists has found a cleverly designed double-walled nanostructure that lasts more than 6,000 cycles, far more than needed by electric vehicles or mobile electronics.

In 2022, over 128 million electric vehicles will be made, mainly two wheelers, according to the IDTechEx report, Electric Vehicles 2012-2022. That means over $260 billion dollars of business in our estimations, even at ex-factory prices, with cars being under 50% of that figure.

EVS26 in Los Angeles this month reminded one of the children's chant, "When she was good she was very, very good but when she was bad she was awful". The networking opportunities were superb, the welcoming reception and the Gala Dinner being truly memorable.

So far, most supercapacitors use organic electrolytes because they give higher cell voltage and other benefits, though these electrolytes do have pollution and fire issues in large capacitor constructions in some cases. For example, Japanese manufacturers have agreed to shun the dangerous chemical acetonitrile, the electrolyte used by Maxwell Technologies in the USA but using aqueous propylene carbonate means the lower temeprature limit of their supercapacitors is around minus 25C meaning they cannot be used for starting very cold vehicles.

Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors EDLCs are known by many other names but EDLC is the most popular on search engines.

Energy harvesting ICs can convert an appropriate transducer's output into an electric current for a battery charger device.

This article shares some of the research carried out for the new IDTechEx report, Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors 2013-2023.

Electric Futures London took place 27 April with about 40 people present. Its focus was rail and bus electrification.