AsianScientist (May 29, 2019) – In a study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, scientists in South Korea have developed a transparent and flexible battery using single-layered graphene.
Transparent devices that can generate and store energy sound like they belong in science fiction movies, but advances in materials science and electronics are bringing such gadgets closer to reality. For example, graphene, a one-dimensional layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal arrangement, has unique electrical and optical properties, making it ideal for use in electronic displays and devices.
In the present study, researchers led by Dr. Choi Changsoon at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea, have used single-layered graphene film as electrodes to develop an almost-transparent battery. By fabricating graphene as a nano-mat containing semisolid electrolyte, they succeeded in increasing the transparency of their battery to a maximum of 77.4 percent.
Furthermore, the research team inserted an energy storage panel inside the upper layer of their device and an energy conversion panel inside the lower panel, allowing their invention to self-charge and store electricity. They also succeeded in manufacturing electronics with touch-sensing systems by adding a touch sensor right below the energy storage panel.
“We decided to start this research because we were amazed by transparent smartphones appearing in movies. While there is still a long way to go before our device can be commercialized (due to high production costs), we will do our best to advance this technology further,” said Choi.
The article can be found at: Chun et al. (2019) Single-Layer Graphene-Based Transparent and Flexible Multifunctional Electronics for Self-Charging Power and Touch-Sensing Systems.
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Source: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology; Photo: Shutterstock.
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