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Battelle Supercapacitor Holds Promise for Energy Storage
Innovative Research Aims at Green Energy Uses and Electronics
| Source: Battelle
COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - February 22, 2010) - One of the really thorny issues in deploying
solar, wind and electric-car technologies involves efficiently storing energy. With
that in mind, Battelle scientists
are in the early stages of developing a technology that addresses storage
needs affordably.
The supercapacitor
technology developed on Battelle's Columbus campus is projected to capture
and store large amounts of electricity for extended time periods and also
release the energy quickly.
Battelle's technology could be applicable in plug-in hybrid electrical
vehicles (PHEV) because the current energy storage technology is bulky and
inefficient. Spencer Pugh, Vice President and manager of Industrial and
International Markets for Battelle's National Security division, says
current batteries can't store or release power fast enough. The Battelle
solution seeks to do both.
"Energy storage is an area expected to undergo dramatic growth simply
because it has been a severely limiting factor in extending advancements in
solar, wind and tidal power and in automobiles -- likewise for small
electronic devices which need to be light but also powerful," Pugh said.
The immediate goal is to extend the current research and develop
supercapacitors with energy density approaching that of present lithium ion
batteries, but with extended recharging lifetime, said Battelle Senior
Research Scientist Steven Risser, who leads the research team. "We
anticipate the energy density will be maybe 10 times that of present
capacitors and the cycling lifetime along this path may be 10 times that of
present lithium ion batteries."
With the importance of mitigating global climate change by augmenting
fossil-based power sources, such an energy storage
technology could be a boon for many areas of the newly emerging "green"
economy. Charles Lucius, Battelle's Vice President for Sustainable Energy
Solutions, said energy storage is a critical enabling technology required
for effective deployment of most renewable energy sources on an even
broader scale. "This is an excellent example of Battelle focusing its
efforts on a key technology with application to many markets. This
represents an important step along the path that will enable us to take
advantage of a variety of renewable energy sources that are needed in the
future," he said.
The key discovery, Risser said, was how to modify a novel composite of
nano-sized metal oxides mixed with various forms of carbon. By altering
the metal composition, the researchers can tune performance for specific
applications ranging from on-grid and off-grid energy storage to hybrid
automobiles, consumer electronics and home solar and wind power systems.
"We are continuing to improve this technology," said Pugh, "and we are
interested in talking with industrial partners who want to commercialize or
license this technology."
As the world's largest, independent research and development organization,
Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs
through its four global businesses: Laboratory
Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life
Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting
$5.6 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory
management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus,
Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 130 locations
worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or
co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security and a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom.