A team of scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder has made a groundbreaking discovery that could potentially revolutionize energy storage and charging times for electronic devices and electric vehicles. The research, led by Ankur Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
The team’s research focused on moving tiny charged particles, called ions, within a complex network of minuscule pores. This discovery has the potential to lead to the development of more efficient energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, which could drastically reduce charging times for electronic devices and electric vehicles.
Mr. Ankur explained that while several chemical engineering techniques are used to study flow in porous materials, such as oil reservoirs and water filtration, they have not been fully utilized in some energy storage systems. The team’s findings modify Kirchhoff’s law, which has governed current flow in electrical circuits since 1845, and provide new insights into ion movement in complex networks of interconnected pores.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond electronic devices and electric vehicles. It also has the potential to enhance energy storage for power grids, where efficient storage is crucial to managing fluctuating energy demand and ensuring rapid supply during peak periods.
Supercapacitors, which rely on ion accumulation in their pores, are known for their rapid charging times and longer life spans than traditional batteries. The team’s research could lead to significant advancements in supercapacitor technology, making charging and energy release even faster through the more efficient movement of ions.
“This discovery is a significant leap forward in our understanding of ion movement in complex networks of interconnected pores,” Gupta stated. “We believe that this breakthrough has the potential to transform the landscape of energy storage and charging times, with far-reaching implications for the future of sustainable energy.”
Journal Reference
- Henrique, F., Żuk, P. J., & Gupta, A. (2024). A network model to predict ionic transport in porous materials. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(22), e2401656121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401656121