Breakthrough in 'Nanogate Capacitor' has Applications in Electrical Power Supplies

On October 3, 2003, JEOL Ltd., Japan's largest manufacturer of electron microscopes, announced the successful development of a revolutionary "nanogate capacitor" with an energy density of 50 to 75 Wh/kg, ten times higher than current high-energy capacitors.

Conventional capacitors have short charge/discharge cycles and long lifetimes. They consist almost entirely of environmentally benign carbon and aluminum foil, and unlike rechargeable batteries, contain no toxic substances. The major drawback of conventional capacitors is their very low energy density compared with rechargeable batteries.

The new nanogate capacitors offer all the usual features of conventional capacitors, but have greater energy density than nickel-hydrogen batteries , approaching the ratings of large lithium-ion batteries.

If electrical storage systems can be developed using nanogate capacitors, they will be useful in applications requiring efficient power sources that must meet size constraints and can provide the right amount and intensity of electricity on demand. Such systems have uses in hybrid cars, electric vehicles, buffers and night-time storage devices for solar or wind power generators, and so on. If applied to electrical storage systems they could also be used as an alternative to the practice of pumping water at certain times for electrical load leveling at hydroelectric power plants, and could make a big contribution to solve environmental and energy problems in the world.




Posted: 2003/11/25 06:15:28 PM
Japanese version