Instruction
1.What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology, sometimes shortened to "Nanotech", refers to
a field whose theme is the control of matter on an atomic and mo-
lecular scale. Generally nanotechnology deals with structures 100
nanometers or smaller, and involves developing materials or de-
vices within that size.
Nanotechnology is extremely diverse, ranging from novel ex-
tensions of conventional device physics, to completely new ap-
proaches based upon molecular self-assembly, to developing new
materials with dimensions on the nanoscale, or the scale of nothing,
even to speculation on whether we can directly control matter on
the atomic scale. (1)
Figure 1. Scanning electron mi-
croscope picture of 1000nm
polystyrene beads arranged in an
opal structure.
Figure 2. Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) in
2.What are capacitor and super-capacitor?
A capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores en-
ergy in the form of an electrostatic field. A capacitor consists of two is more than 47 kJ/L at 2.85 V and power density of over 20 W/g.(5)
conducting plates separated by an insulating material called the di-
electric. The capacitance is directly proportional to the surface ar-
eas of the plates, and it is inversely proportional to the separation
between the plates. Capacitance also depends on the dielectric con-
stant of the substance separating the plates. (2)
Super-capacitors, also known as Electric double-layer capaci-
tors, electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) or ultra-
capacitors are electrochemical capacitors that have an unusually
high energy density when compared to common capacitors.(3)
How does a common capacitor turn to a super-capacitor? Be-
cause we change the material of dielectric and plates with the help
of nanotech. As the equation shows us E depends on capacitance, C
and voltage, V. And C depends on surface area of plates, A and dis-
tance between two plates, d. If we can increase A and decrease d as
much as possible, we can have much energy stored in our capacitor.
Figure 3. equation of energy storage in capacitor
Future Prospect
Nanotech Ultracapacitors: the future of electric cars:
for "The big problem has always been the battery and its limits,"
says Clifford, ZENN's founder and CEO in a phone interview.
"This new technology is a 180-degree shift that represents the end
Super-capacitor
of fossil fuel as a transportation fuel."
That's because the same ultracapacitor technology could be
used across the grid to provide cheap electric storage for wind and
solar power, he says. In turn, this process could power millions of
ultracapacitor vehicles with no emissions at all. With the cars' fast-
Written by charge capability, recharging stations could pop up to help make
Wang Jing Yuan even longer trips routine. And the company is now nearing com-
mercial production of its new "electrical energy storage unit" or
EESU
Current Research
In August 2007, a research team at RPI developed a paper battery with aligned carbon nano-
tubes, designed to function as both a lithium-ion battery and a supercapacitor (called bacitor), using
an ionic liquid, essentially a liquid salt, as the electrolyte. The sheets can be rolled, twisted, folded, or
cut into numerous shapes with no loss of integrity or efficiency, or stacked, like printer paper (or a
Voltaic pile), to boost total output. Further, they can be made in a variety of sizes, from postage stamp
to broadsheet. Their light weight and low cost make them attractive for portable electronics, aircraft,
automobiles, and toys (such as model aircraft), while their ability to use electrolytes in blood make
them potentially useful for medical devices such as pacemakers. In addition, they are biodegradable.
(4)
The Estonian company Tartu Technologies developed supercapacitors from mineral based carbon.
These nonactivated carbon are synthesised from the metal- or metalloid carbides, e.g. SiC, TiC,
Al4C3, etc. as claimed in US patent 6602742 and WO patent 2005118471 . The synthesised nanos-
tructured porus carbon, often called Carbide Derived Carbon (CDC), have surface area about 400 m²/
g to 2000 m²/g with specific capacitance up to 100 F/mL (in organic electrolyte). They claim a super-
capacitor with a volume of 135 mL and 200 g weight having 1.6 kF capacitance. The energy density Figure 6. Future electric car
The company Reticle claims to be able to make supercapacitors from activated carbon in solid
form. This substance they call consolidated amorphous carbon (CAC). It can have a surface area ex-
2
ceeding 2800 m /g and according to US patent 6787235 may be cheaper to produce than aerogel car-
bon. Reference
1.Nanotechnology. Web Site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology
2.(24 May ). Midmarket CIO Definitions. Retrieved November 23, 2008, Web site: http://
searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci211742,00.html
3.Supercapacitor. Web Site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercapacitor
4.Mullaney, Michael (August 13). Beyond Batteries: Storing Power in a Sheet of Paper. from
http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2280
5.R&D of supercapacitors in Skeleton NanoLab. Web site: http://www.skeletonnanolab.com/
Supercap.html
Figure 1. http://www.nanochimie.com.my/021.gif
Figure 2. http://spie.org/Images/Graphics/Newsroom/Imported/1047/1047_fig1.jpg
Figure 3. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm/printable
Figure 4. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
Image:Maxwell_supercapacitor_MC2600_series_2600F.jpg
Figure 5. http://www.aviransplace.com/2005/12/24/
Figure 6. http://www.fullboost.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=31870
Figure 4. MC and BC series supercapacitors (up to 3000 Figure 5. Paper Battery
farad capacitance) produced by Maxwell Technologies