Researchers from the University of Houston, Jackson Steit University and Hovard University have taken an important step towards a more environmentally friendly future. The team managed to create a flexible capacitor with a record high energy density.
Development described in the journal ACS Nano as “ultra -high capacitive energy density in stratified polymer dielectric films with 2D fillers “, opens up broad prospects for transforming energy storage systems in various fields – from medicine and aviation to electric vehicles, consumer electronics and defense industry.
Dielectric capacitors play an invaluable role in many electronic devices and power systems, as they are able to quickly release large volumes of energy.
“They are the basis of reliable energy supply, especially in the context of the transition to renewable energy sources,” confirms Alamgir Karim, professor of chemical technology of the University of Houston and the scientific manager of the project. However, existing capacitors are significantly inferior to other drives, for example, batteries, by capacity.
To solve the problem, scientists have created a unique design of layered polymers saturated with two -dimensional nanon fillers. These nanon fillers are obtained by mechanical splitting of 2D materials scales.
As Karim notes, it is important to take into account two key aspects to increase the energy capacity in the capacitors – to improve the dielectric permeability of the materials and increase their strength.
The materials were located in separate layers – so that a structure that looks like a sandwich and optimal for the functioning of the capacitor. This super -thin structure, the thickness of which is smaller than the human hair, exceeds the effectiveness of ordinary capacitors with randomly distributed nanon fillers, demonstrating the record energy density of about 75 J/cm³ with high efficiency.
Scientists have shown that the ordered arrangement of two -dimensional nanoplasts prevents an electric breakdown, especially when using materials such as mica and boron hexagonal nitride. What is noteworthy, the insulating properties of the material improve even if the share of nanon fillers in polymer material is only 1%.