PAPER BATTERY

Nano Composites and Paper Battery



Nano Composites and Paper Battery

Introduction

In 2007, the scientists and researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute successfully developed a novel energy storage device. The developed storage device is capable to perform the functions of an ordinary rechargeable battery or a super capacitor. The main reason of attraction for this device is resemblance of its physical properties with those of paper; therefore, it is commonly referred to as paper battery. The energy storage device resembles the paper to the extent, that it could be mistaken of being the paper. The paper battery is expected to serve for the increasing demands of flexible and ultrathin energy storage devices, as required by most of the today's gadgets. The modern gadgets need the efficient means of energy storage to provide with the smart, high power and energy demanding applications.

In addition to being highly flexible, light weight, ultrathin, the paper batteries formed by nano composites can also work effectively in extreme temperature conditions due to the nature of their constituents. This essay describes the concepts of nano composites paper and paper battery along with major advantages.

Discussion

Developing flexible, light weight and ultra thin storage devices has become a strong area of interest. The major motivation behind the development of lighter weight batteries is undoubtedly, the increasing use of modern gadgets, with flexible power requirements (Victor, et.al, 2007). The two fundamental ways are used for storing electrochemical energy; namely, storage in battery, or storage in super capacitor. The principle of redox reaction that takes place during the transfer of electrons in electro active materials is used for storing charge in the battery. In the super capacitor, non-Faradic process is used for storing charge; i.e.; no electron transfer takes place, and the storage of energy takes place under electrostatic principles. When compared to the battery, the cyclability of super capacitors is found to be relatively high, as no chemical phase and composition changes are involved for the charge storage process. The fundamental difference exists between the working of battery and super capacitor because such capacitors work on continuous charging of chemical and associated electrode potentials, whereas the battery reactants exhibit thermodynamic behavior. Today, as the modern devices demand efficient energy storage means for running high power and energy demanding applications, there is a need of integrating the properties of energy storage batteries and super capacitors. Idea is to combine the charging property of the battery, with the discharging property of the capacitor. A energy storage device made my combining these two properties is expected to have a high energy storage capability, along with quick discharge capability.

The properties (structural and electrochemical) of electrode materials significantly govern the performance characteristics of energy devices (Burke, 2000). Other important factors in this regard are high power limitations and packaging types. In order to embed the energy storage device within the modern gadgets, it is critical to develop the flexible integrated structures that contain the necessary components of the charge storing ...