The latest nano-invention from a UCF researcher could change the way everyday electronic devices such as cellphones, tablets, and even hybrid cars are powered.
Dr. Jayan Thomas may well be Central Florida’s very own Thomas Edison, constantly looking for the next great idea in the field of nanotechnology.
His Nano Energy-Photonics Group at the University of Central Florida has produced a variety of innovative new ideas: a holographic 3D TV using photorefractive polymers, thin flexible super capacitors, and specially coated lenses that block laser light, which could be used to protect pilots.
Now Thomas and his team have devised a way for electrical wires to not only conduct electricity, but also to store it.
“For us, it is a breakthrough, truly revolutionary,” Thomas said.
At the time of the breakthrough, Thomas was working on creating super capacitors with greatly increased energy storage capacity. Nanostructures “grown” on thin metal films increase surface area, thereby increasing storage capacity.
While out walking one evening, Thomas said he was thinking about his work on the flat super capacitors when a bundle of wires on the side of the road caught his attention.
“The thought just came to me, ‘What if we could just wrap the super capacitor around the wire and store the energy at the same time as transmitting it?’” he said.
The very next day he presented the idea to a student, Ph.D. candidate Zenan Yu. Together they began working to testtest is test Thomas’ idea.
Using copper wire as a base, they ‘grew’ tiny nanostructures on it, creating “whiskers” on the wire, just as they had for the flat super capacitor. The whiskers are then coated in a conductive alloy and again in manganese oxide, creating the first electrodeA solid electric conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves in a medium. To separate one electrodeA solid electric conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves in a medium layer from the next, the wire, with its ‘whiskers’ is wrapped in a polymer coating, much like regular wires. Then the final layer is added. Thomas and his team created another super capacitor, this time on flat copper foil, then wrapped it around the first layer, creating the second electrodeA solid electric conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves in a medium.
With all the layers complete, the result is a single wire that both conducts and stores electricity.
As Thomas explained, the innovation could make it possible to greatly reduce or someday eliminate the need for batteries.
