All about Graphene batteries
Graphene is usually used to enhance existing battery chemistries [1] but can also be used as the sole material in batteries [2] if someone can figure out a way to carry out low-cost mass manufacturing of graphene [3]. Since graphene is electrically conductive and is an allotrope of carbon (which can bond with a lot of elements), using graphene allows us to incorporate energy-dense materials like Vanadium Oxide in batteries. [1] You generally want to optimize two battery performance parameters — energy density, which governs how much energy/charge a battery holds per unit volume or per unit mass, and power density, which governs how fast the energy can be supplied per unit of volume or per unit of mass. The energy density determines how long the battery lasts and the power density determines how fast the battery can recharge and how fast a battery can do something (like turn a motor). Enhancing Lithium based batteries (Like Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries) with graphene can increase their power density. [1] [2] Graphene can enable us to build batteries that last longer, charge faster, and easy to recycle/decompose. This can make medium range electric planes (500–1000 miles, 60–100 passengers, $40–60 million) possible and improve the performance of all consumer electronic devices. The main impediment to sustainable energy is the problem of stabilizing the power supply using good energy and power storage technologies and graphene batteries can help us solve this issue, accelerate the world’s transition towards sustainable energy, and save the earth. There are challenges in scaling up this technology as it is hard to manufacture it at a low cost and a large scale while maintaining its quality [4], but I’m sure we can figure out to iron out the flaws and improve batteries by leaps and bounds.
[1] Graphene-Info: The Graphene experts. (n.d.). “Graphene batteries: Introduction and Market News”. Retrieved from https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-batteries
[2] Kim, H., Park, KY., Hong, J., Kang, K. (2014, June 13). “All-graphene battery: bridging the gap between supercapacitors and lithium ion batteries”. Nature. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/srep05278
[3] Berger, M. (2017, July 20). “Graphene for batteries supercapacitors and other energy storage.” Retrieved from http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=47511.php
[4] Paiste, D. (2016, November 2). “Battery Challenges: Cost and Performance”. MIT Materials Processing Center. Retrieved from http://news.mit.edu/2016/battery-challenges-cost-and-performance-1102
Here’s some information about Graphene:
[1] The University of Manchester. (n.d) “What can Graphene Do?”. Retrieved from http://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/explore/what-can-graphene-do/
[2] Calapinto, J. (2014, December). “Material Question”. New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/material-question
[3] Larousserie, D. (2013, November 22). “Graphene — The new wonder material”. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/26/graphene-molecule-potential-wonder-material
[4] AzoNano. (2016, December 21). “Understanding Graphene Batteries”. Retrieved from https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4326
[5] Feunte, J.D.L. (n.d.). “Graphene — What is it?”. Retrieved from https://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene#.WZPzfIq1vIE
YouTube Videos:
[1] Armando Ismael Arc. (2016, February 16). “Graphene Battery (sic), future and present”. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uueLj9zXuic
[2] The University of Manchester — The Home of Graphene. (2016, February 1). “How can Graphene improve batteries?”. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfW5KLSZVoI
[3] SciShow. (2014, July 14). “Graphene: The next big (but thin) thing”. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcg9_ML2mXY
https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1107/1107.0109.pdf
