The work, funded through a
"We want to convert this into an affordable technology," said
Nanotubes are microscopic carbon structures -- each a fraction of the width of a human hair -- capable of conducting energy. They are used to make products ranging from tennis rackets to water filtration systems to semiconductors. Zyvex Technologies, a
Rao, his colleagues and students are coating rolls of aluminum foil and other materials with nanotubes to create better capacitors -- devices commonly used in concert with batteries to store electricity and regulate voltage.
The researchers grow their own nanotubes in a processor, which the aluminum foil passes through in a roll-to-roll process similar to newspaper printing. The foil is heat treated, allowing the nanotubes to stick onto its surface. Lignin, a wood byproduct, is added afterward to help with storage. Another of their methods uses nanotubes sprayed onto paper -- called buckypaper. The end products can be stamped as needed and rolled up for easy storage.
"Our capacitors have their value, and they have their limitations," Roberts said. "But they're nontoxic, environmentally friendly materials that can fill a role in our energy landscape. The lignin is biorenewable and buckypaper can be recycled. ... At the end of the day, we want something that is cost-effective and efficient."
The researchers intend to reach out this year to electronic component makers around the state --
"At some point we will need industrial partners to come and work with us," Rao said. "We can partner with
These capacitors won't be turning up in cars or cellphones soon, however. The components have to be cheap enough to build and sell that companies will want to retool their production facilities to make them.
"This has applications on many different levels, but each level presents different engineering problems," said
Podila is working with Rao and Roberts on the project. His work uses lasers and nanotubes to replace the circuits on motherboards, which would allow computers to run faster and more efficiently.
The team is a quarter of the way through its four-year project. Students are getting lab time to prepare for careers in nanotube and related technologies. Roberts, Rao and Podila plan to publish papers about 10 different areas of their research so far and have reached out to peers at other institutions for review and comment -- all conditions attached to the NSF grant. There is also a patent pending, and more likely on the horizon.
Rao is heartened by the progress made thus far, but he's not ready to make any bold predictions.
"This is just past year one, so it is too early to call any shots," Rao said.
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