Researchers at IISc Bengaluru’s Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, along with their collaborators, have developed a new supercapacitor that charges by exposure to light. This innovation could power devices like streetlights and self-powered electronics, such as sensors.
How It Works:
– Supercapacitors store energy using electrochemical processes, making them more efficient than traditional capacitors. The new supercapacitor uses Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown on transparent Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO) electrodes. – FTO’s transparency allows light to reach ZnO nanorods, charging the supercapacitor. The setup uses both liquid and semi-solid gel electrolytes, enhancing charge storage due to minimal distance between electrodes.
Unique Characteristics:
– When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, the supercapacitor’s capacitance significantly increased, defying conventional trends where capacitance typically decreases with rising voltage. – Fast charging under UV light caused an unexpected increase in stored energy, attributed to the liquid electrolyte’s unique behavior.
Applications:
– These supercapacitors can potentially replace solar cells in streetlights, power microchips in electronic devices, and provide high power density, enabling rapid charge release compared to batteries.
The team aims to enhance the design for charging with visible and infrared light, potentially revolutionizing energy storage and charging in electronics.
