A team from the University of Massachusetts has developed a polymer-based energy storage system that emits heat as needed when needed.Scientists say their systems utilize polymer chains that align like Christmas lights, Achieve twice the storage density of previous polymer-based systems.
A new battery being developed by University of Massachusetts scientists provides a new alternative to lithium batteries that store energy in chemical bonds to release heat rather than electricity.
According to the Scientific Report, the system achieves an average 510 J / g storage density of up to 690 J / g compared with 200 J / g for the previous polymer energy storage system. "In theory we were able to achieve 800 J / g, but no one can do that, "said Dhandapani Venkataraman, a professor of chemistry at the University of Massachusetts, who said, 'This article reports that we have reached one of the highest energy storage densities in polymer systems.'
Based on earlier work by MIT professor Jeffrey Grossman, the system proposes arranging molecules around carbon nanotubes that allow scientists to manipulate molecular behavior and determine energy absorption and release.
The researchers based Grossman's idea of controlling the arrangement but chose a flexible polymer instead of carbon nanotubes. "You can not shorten the distance between molecules of carbon nanotubes," explains Venkataraman. "We wanted to be similar to Christmas The structure of lantern - like polymer chains will make azobenzenes get closer to each other and affect each other, that is, as they gain energy and become more stable.
Despite the initial success, the team was unable to explain why the choice of handling solvents increased energy storage efficiency through further experimentation. "We think the distance between the bulbs on the wire (the molecules in the analog chain) is the most Important, but more importantly, how many lines and their lamps are being laid out, Venkataraman goes on to say: "The treatment solvents we have used have proven to ensure essentially the maximum storage density."
The team said that there are still some practical issues related to charging, which will now be focused on, which can be applied to solar panels, which collect energy during the day and are used for heating or cooking after dark.
Original from pv-magazine, the original title for UMass scientists boost polymer-chain storage efficiency