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Researchers Develop Super Batteries From Aerogel

Posted by samzenpus on from the out-of-thick-air dept.

greenerd writes "Researchers from the University of Central Florida may have found the most efficient (and most bizarre) battery material yet – 'frozen smoke', also known as Aerogel. One of the world's lightest solids, aerogel contains multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) which each one several thousands thinner than human hair. The researchers, Associate Professor Lei Zhai and Postdoctoral Associate Jianhua Zou, believe that this material could soon become the best energy storage material for capacitors and batteries."

2 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Actual Headline: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Researchers Didn't Develop Super Batteries From Aerogel

  2. Re:Insulation as a "house battery" by wagnerrp · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Technically, you are correct. However, power companies have to run peak load plants to make up the difference in power draw from what the baseline plants provide. If you can come up with an economical means of storing vast amounts of energy, you would be able to build and operate more baseline plants, and do away with the more expensive, less efficient, peak plants.

    Similarly, if you can provide a significant energy buffer, otherwise unreliable power sources like wind and solar become considerably more viable.