Scientists managed to create a new capacitor, where an ordinary brick was taken as a basis.
Hello dear guests and subscribers of my channel. Today I want to tell you about an unusual invention of American scientists who managed to create a fully working capacitor, where red brick was used as a substrate. So let's go.
American chemists succeeded in converting the most common red brick into a capacitor substrate, based on the PEDOT polymer.
The main task of the scientists was the search for such a substrate that would guarantee a large surface contact area and would contain iron (III) in its composition in sufficient quantities. After all, it is necessary to ensure the reaction of oxidative polymerization.
And as it turned out, ordinary brick turned out to be an ideal candidate, especially since it is cheap and can withstand significant temperature changes and mechanical stress.
The prototype of the new capacitor withstood 10,000 discharge-charge cycles while retaining 90% of its original capacity.
Scientists published all the results of their research in the journal Nature Communications.
Why exactly red brick
As you know, mankind has been successfully producing red baked bricks for many millennia. And already fired brick consists of silicon and aluminum oxides, as well as hematite (it is he who gives the color to the brick).
How the capacitor was created
So American scientists led by H. D. Arsi (University of Washington) decided to use red brick as a substrate for a capacitor made of polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDOT) conductive polymer films.
In such capacitors, energy is stored due to the Faraday reaction taking place in the polymer.
In order to apply a layer of PEDOT polymer film to a brick, a whole technology has been developed. During processing, the red brick changed its color to dark blue due to the fact that the polymer was precipitated on it.
Scientists managed to achieve a maximum layer thickness of 400 microns, while the length of one polymer fiber is 30 micrometers, and its diameter does not exceed 190 nanometers.
After deposition, metal electrodes (protected with an epoxy film) were attached to the bricks and tested as capacitors in combination with two different electrolytes:
- Using a gel electrolyte, the brick capacitor showed a capacitance of 1.38 farads per cubic centimeter. And after 1000 charge-discharge cycles, its capacity remained at 90% of the original.
- When using a liquid electrolyte, the capacitive characteristic for the same volume was already 2.84 farads and the maximum voltage was 2.6 Volts. Which made it possible to power the LED for a minute. Only in this version the device did not demonstrate high stability.
It should be emphasized that researchers have not yet carried out an accurate selection of parameters for experimental samples, but only studied the very possibility of work.
Therefore, in the future, the technical parameters of the brick capacitor can be adjusted for a much better side.
Where will such capacitors be used?
Of course, we will not find phones with brick batteries in the future, but they can be used in stationary installations for fast energy storage.
Scientists also emphasize that such brick capacitors may well be used in construction (since the mechanical strength of the brick after applying a layer of polymer does not suffer) residential houses.
This will create an excellent energy storage system (for example, from solar panels). Indeed, according to preliminary calculations, such walls may well have a capacity of 11,500 farads per square meter of surface.
Of course, the development is promising, but in order to be more specific, you need to wait for the full commercial use of the device. If you liked the material, then don't forget about the like and the comment. Thanks for attention!