In the modern world of science and technology, we spend most time charging our electric appliances. But what if we tell you that you will now be able to charge your dead laptop or smartphone in just a minute? Well, the technology is here. Recently, an Indian-origin researcher has revealed a novel technology that can help in charging a laptop and phone in one minute. Moreover, using the same way, you can charge your electric car in 10 minutes only. Let’s see what this technology is.
How is it possible?
Ankur Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the US-based University of Colorado Boulder and his team of researchers discovered this new technology. In a study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers explained how tiny charged particles, called ions, move within a complex network of minuscule pores. The breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, said Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.
Gupta said, “Given the critical role of energy in the future of the planet, I felt inspired to apply my chemical engineering knowledge to advancing energy storage devices. It felt like the topic was somewhat unexplored and, as such, the perfect opportunity.”
Gupta explained that several chemical engineering techniques are used to study flow in porous materials such as oil reservoirs and water filtration, but they have not been fully utilised in some energy storage systems. The study stated that this discovery is not only for storing energy in vehicles and electronic devices but also for power grids, where fluctuating energy demand requires efficient storage to avoid waste during periods of low demand and to ensure rapid supply during high demand. Supercapacitors, energy storage devices that rely on ion accumulation in their pores, have rapid charging times and longer life spans compared to batteries. The researcher said that the primary appeal of supercapacitors is their speed. “So how can we make their charging and release of energy faster? By the more efficient movement of ions,” said Gupta.