Intel researchers have been working on “ultracapacitors with a greater energy density than today’s lithium batteries,” according to EE Times. Intel is looking into producing these nano-scale ultracapacitors in high-volume manufacturing, meaning that if successful, they may be potentially capable of powering gadgets like smartphones and laptops.
Typically capacitors are used for short-term electrical storage (for example, on a solar powered calculator, a capacitor will collect and store electricity in case you go somewhere without light for a short period of time; depending on the storage capacity of the capacitors in the calculator this will typically be for a few minutes); however ultracapacitors are essentially the higher end models, capable of holding energy for longer periods of time thus competing with batteries.
Capacitors are often lighter-weight than batteries and maintain a longer overall physical lifespan. For example, capacitors seen on printed circuit boards (PCB) may last a lifetime. However, they typically do not maintain a charge for very long and this is why batteries are used to power most gadgets. But with ultracapacitors, this may change.
MIT’s Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity is working on a multitude of micro- and nano- scale manufacturing techniques. For example, researchers at the Precision Compliant Systems (PCSL) Laboratory at MIT are looking into multi-axis nanopositioning systems.
The PCSL describes nanopostitioners as “electromechanical systems…that position and orient components with [nanometer]-level accuracy.” While not directly related to the manufacture of nano-scale ultracapacitors, this technology may be able to include Intel’s nano-scale ultracapacitors on smaller-scale circuit boards, making your electronics smaller.
Nobody knows for sure what the full potential of these nano-scale ultracapacitors are–maybe they’ll drastically increase the lifespan of your laptop or smartphone–but the future sure looks bright.
[via EE Times]
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