Researchers at the University of Delaware and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have used nanotechnology to boost the energy density of dielectric capacitors.
One of the keys to the success of the new capacitor is said to be its interdigitated design, which decreases significantly the distance between opposing electrodes and therefore increases the ability of the capacitor to store charge. The capacitors also feature a nanoscale electrode, whose high breakdown voltage means the dielectric material functions as an insulator more readily.
“We achieved an energy density of about 2W/kg, which is significantly higher than that of other dielectric capacitor structures reported in the literature,” said Delaware’s Professor Bingqing Wei, pictured.
“To our knowledge, this is the first time that 3D nanoscale interdigital electrodes have been realised in practice. With high surface area relative to their size, carbon nanotubes embedded in … 3D architectures have enabled us to address the low ability of dielectric capacitors to store energy.”
According to the team, applications for its capacitor design could include accessory power supply and hybrid power systems.
Pic: Kathy Atkinson/University of Delaware
Author
Graham Pitcher
Source: www.newelectronics.co.uk