GERMI’s UltraCapacitor

Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

Image Courtesy: Google

GERMI’s UltraCapacitor

Scientists at the Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) have achieved a breakthrough in energy storage technology with the development of a paper-based supercapacitor.

• This cutting-edge supercapacitor, derived from seaweed,boasts remarkable attributes such as being lightweight, biodegradable, and capable of fully charging a device within a mere 10 seconds.

What is a Paper-based Supercapacitor?

• About:
  • The paper-based supercapacitor developed by GERMI researchers is the thinnest and most lightweight of its kind.
  • By leveraging cellulose nanofibers derived from seaweed, the team successfully created an anodic paper supercapacitorthat exhibits exceptional tensile strength, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Applications and Business Prospects:
  • The applications ofthis innovative supercapacitor are vast, spanning electronics, memory backup systems, airbags, heavy machinery, and electric vehicles.
  • Consequently, it presents a lucrative business prospect for industries seeking high-performance energy storage solutions.
    • The technology’s versatility and eco-friendly nature make it an attractive option for both manufacturers and consumers.
  • The Potential of Marine Cellulose:
    • The paper supercapacitor owes its remarkable properties to the marine cellulose-based material derived from seaweed.
      • This material holds immense potential for integration into various smart electronic devices.
      • Additionally, the cultivation of seaweed can serve as a source of revenue for coastal communities,creating economic opportunities and sustainable development.

What is a Supercapacitor?

• A supercapacitor is an electrochemical charge storage device. They are also known as ultracapacitors.
  • It has significant advantages such as high-power density, long durability, and ultrafast charging characteristics as compared to conventional capacitors and Lithium-Ion batteries (LIB).
• Main components of supercapacitors include electrode, electrolyte, separator, and the current collector.

What are Seaweeds?

• About:
  • Seaweedsare macroalgae attached to rock or other substrata and are found in coastal areas.
  • They are classified as chlorophyta (green), rhodophyta (red) and phaeophyta (brown) on the basis of their pigmentation.
    • Among them, chlorophyta holds more potential components — carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and bioactive compounds.
  • Significance:
    • Nutritional Value:Seaweeds are rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.
    • For Medicinal Purpose:Many seaweeds contain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. Certain seaweeds possess powerful cancer-fighting agents.
    • Bioindicator: When waste from agriculture, industries, aquaculture and households are let into the ocean, it causes nutrient imbalance leading toalgal blooming, the sign of marine chemical damage.
      • Seaweeds absorb the excess nutrients and balance out the ecosystem.
    • Oxygen Production:Seaweeds, as photosynthetic organisms, play a vital role in marine ecosystems by producing oxygen through photosynthesis, sustaining the respiration and survival of marine life.
    • Cellulose Content:Green seaweed that is collected from the Porbandar coast of Gujarat has a high amount of a particular type of cellulose in its cell wall.
      • Cellulose is found to be the most suitable biopolymer material for manufacturing paper-based electrode materialssuch as batteries for energy storage applications.
        • Cellulose itself is an insulating material that requires to be coated with conductive materialto make a paper-based energy storage device.
      • Seaweed Cultivation:
        • Out of the global seaweed production of around 32 million tons of fresh weight valued around USD 12 billion.
          • China produces approximately 57%, Indonesia 28% followed by South Korea, whereas India has a mere share of ~0.01-0.02%.
        • By an estimate, if cultivation is done in ~10 million hectares or 5% of theExclusive Economic Zone area of India, it can provide employment to ~ 50 million people, contribute to national GDP, lead to ocean productivity, abates algal blooms, sequesters millions of tons CO2, and could produce bio-ethanol of 6.6 billion litres.

 

 

 

Blog By: Trupti Thakur