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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. Wish they made it cheap by rolfwind · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For insulation as well. Several companies make it, but hard to get a hold of a decent size of it at anywhere near an economical price.

    Hopefully this spurns added demand to find a cheap way to produce it en masse.

    1. Re:Wish they made it cheap by Zerth · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You can make an aerogel suitable for home insulation purposes yourself. Just requires some practice, a 10 year old kid did it back in 2002.

      http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2008/03/ten-year-old-ma/

      Also, there are several companies producing aerogel insulation sheets for the few places regular insulation doesn't make sense. e.g. really thin walls or shims between framing. Anywhere you aren't space constrained, you're probably better off just adding more conventional insulation.