Gadgets without batteries. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Gadgets without batteries

31.10.2013

Scientists at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, USA, have for the first time created a high-capacity electrical capacitor (so-called supercapacitor) made from silicon, a material widely used in the microelectronics industry.

Silicon is the basis of any microcircuit - be it the central processing unit in a personal computer or the signal processor in a smartphone. The fact that the new supercapacitor consists of the same material will make it easy to integrate it directly into the microcircuit, the authors of the work say.

The electrical charge that the capacitor is able to store will thus be located directly in the microcircuit, and not in a separate battery, as in modern devices. Supercapacitors are capable of charging and discharging in minutes, instead of hours compared to modern batteries, and can withstand several million recharge cycles, which is a thousand times more compared to batteries.

These properties have led to the proliferation of supercapacitors made from activated carbon in applications such as regenerative braking systems in automobiles, wind turbines, and so on. - where it is necessary to save energy for later use and do it quickly. However, supercapacitors are inferior to modern lithium-ion batteries in terms of charge density and are rather bulky. Therefore, they have not yet gained distribution in the consumer electronics market. Scientists from Vanderbilt University claim they have been able to solve this design flaw.

In order to increase the charge density, they decided to create a supercapacitor from porous silicon, thereby increasing the surface of the material on which ions accumulate. The corresponding material was fabricated in the laboratory by etching a silicon substrate. Then, a team of researchers led by senior lecturer in mechanical engineering Cary Pint superimposed a layer of graphene several nanometers thick on the material, which made it possible to increase the charge storage density by more than two orders of magnitude compared to an uncoated material.

The researchers claim that their development opens up great prospects in the field of consumer devices. For example, users will be able to charge their smartphones and tablets in minutes, while the devices will be thinner and lighter, as they will not contain bulky batteries. In addition, the cost of such devices will be lower, scientists say.

<< Back: Livescribe 3 pen for digitizing handwritten notes 01.11.2013

>> Forward: Soluble Electronics 31.10.2013

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Foods and drinks have become sweeter 03.08.2022

Using market sales data from around the world, Deakin University researchers analyzed the amount of added sugar and sweeteners in foods and beverages from 2007 to 2019. The study showed that the amount of sugar in drinks increased by 36% in all global markets, and in products - by 9%.

"Men are recommended to consume less than nine teaspoons of sugar per day, while women are less than six. However, since sugar is added to many foods and drinks, more than half of Australians exceed the recommendations, eating an average of 14 teaspoons per day," the study says.

Such a large amount of sugar and sweeteners consumed can lead to type II diabetes and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, such a diet can disrupt the gut microbiome.

Since foods and drinks are now sugary, their consumption is addictive. This is of particular concern for children, who are still developing taste preferences.

In addition, some sugar substitutes are considered environmental pollutants and are not effectively removed from wastewater.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews