Summary:
UCLA researchers have developed a novel electrochemical capacitive energy storage device with high energy and power density, addressing limitations in current energy storage technologies and meeting the demands of increasing electrification.
Background:
Current energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical capacitors, have limited energy and power densities that restrict the amount of energy stored and the rate at which energy can be delivered. While electrochemical capacitors offer high power densities, fast charging, and long lifecycles, they have significantly lower energy densities compared to batteries. As energy consumption increases, the demand for both high energy and power densities will surpass the capabilities of current energy storage devices, potentially bottlenecking the development of technologies such as artificial intelligence or electric vehicles. Thus, innovations in energy storage that focus on energy density, power density, efficiency, and cost are crucial to meet the growing demands of emerging technologies.
Innovation:
To address these limitations, UCLA researchers developed an electrochemical capacitor with significantly higher power densities than batteries, while retaining high energy density and rapid charging. This novel electrochemical capacitor employs nano-structured materials to overcome current limitations in energy storage technologies. Unlike traditional electrochemical capacitors, these nano-structured materials combine high surface area with near surface redox reactions to significantly increase energy density. In addition, the flexible self-assembly fabrication allows the technology to be easily customizable, scalable, and cost-effective. The combination of these factors allows the charge storage device to be high in both energy and power density, all while demonstrating its ability to meet the growing demands of energy consumption. This innovative energy storage solution has the potential to transform future technologies by enabling the efficient operation of devices without the constraints of charging limitations.
Potential Applications:
• Electric Vehicles
• Renewable Energy Storage
• grid/off-grid
• Consumer Electronics
• Robotics
• Defense
• Smart City Infrastructure
Advantages:
• High power and energy density
• Rapid charging/discharging
• Long lifecycle
• Flexible/customizable design
• scalable
• Cost-effective
• sustainable
• efficient
Development-To-Date:
Prototypes have been developed.
Patents:
8,675,346
9,653,219
10,056,199
10,741,337
11,978,591
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2009-392
Lead Inventors:
Bruce Dunn, Sarah Tolbert