Store electricity in ultra-thin paper

Not only is the storage capacity of supercapacitors equivalent, the electrical storage material can recharge hundreds of times with each charge lasting only a few seconds.

Successfully fabricated electrical storage paper

Researchers at the Organic Electrical Equipment Laboratory at Linköping University, Sweden, developed a special paper capable of storing electrical energy . New materials are composed of nanofibre fibers and conductive polymers. The results of the study are published in the Advanced Science journal on December 2.

Each sheet has a diameter of about 15cm and a thickness of less than a millimeter, can store energy with a Fara, equivalent to a super capacitor currently on the market. This paper can be recharged hundreds of times and each charge takes only a few seconds to store energy.

Each 15cm diameter sheet can store an electric Fara.(Photo: Thor Balkhed).

"The thin films that function as capacitors have been previously studied. What we do is create real materials in three-dimensional space , " said Professor Xavier Crispin, co-author of the study. Share with Phys Org.

Electric storage paper looks like a lightweight but sturdy plastic sheet that can even be used to shape origami swans.

The structural basis of this paper is fiber nanofibers (nanocellulose) of 20 nm diameter formed in water at high pressure. Then these fibrous nanofibers are coated with a thin layer of charged polymer soaked in aqueous solution.

"Fibers with polymer coatings will twist together, while the interstitial fluid plays an electrolyte role , " explains PhD student Jesper Edberg.

Potential applications of electrical storage paper.(Photo: Linköping University).

Fiber-based paper and this polymer allow simultaneous conductivity of both electrons and ions, which explains its special energy storage capacity. This result also opens the door for further research to develop higher capacity paper.

Unlike current batteries and capacitors on the market, electric storage paper has many advantages such as making from simple materials - renewable fiber and available polymer. Light weight paper, does not contain dangerous chemicals, heavy metals and waterproof.

New electrical storage paper is the same as normal paper, which requires dehydration during fabrication. This is a challenge in manufacturing this product on an industrial scale.