Researchers from Japan and the United States have made a significant breakthrough in energy storage technology, showing that twisted carbon nanotubes can store three times more energy than standard lithium-ion batteries. This development has the potential to revolutionize the creation of light, compact, and safe implants, as well as a new generation of sensors.
Carbon nanotubes are nanometer-scale structures made up of a single layer of carbon atoms. Also known as Grafen, these carbon sheets are incredibly light yet stronger than steel, making them versatile materials with various applications in advanced technologies.
Dr. Sanjiv Kumar Udin, a researcher from the University of Shinsha in Japan, began exploring the idea of using carbon nanotubes for energy storage. After moving to the University of Maryland in Baltimore in 2022, he continued his research and discovered that twisting the nanotubes significantly enhances their efficiency in accumulating energy.
Drawing inspiration from mechanical springs used in children’s toys and watches, Dr. Udin and his team at the Center for Advanced Sensory Technologies (CAST) created “ropes” from commercially available carbon nanotubes. These ropes were then twisted and coated with various substances to improve their strength and flexibility.
Through a series of experiments, the scientists evaluated the energy release capability of the twisted nanotube ropes and compared it to other materials. The results showed that the twisted carbon nanotubes exhibited an energy density that was 15,000 times higher than steel springs per unit mass.
While lithium-ion batteries have been the leading energy storage devices due to their high energy density, the twisted carbon nanotubes have shown to store three times more energy than standard lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, they demonstrate stable performance across a wide range of temperatures from -60 to 100 degrees Celsius.
Since the technology is based on mechanical energy accumulation rather than electrochemical processes, it offers a safer option for use in devices like implants. While it may still be some time before practical implementation in implants, the team is currently working on developing a sensor prototype that utilizes twisted carbon nanotubes as an energy source.
The groundbreaking study highlighting the immense potential of carbon nanotubes for mechanical energy storage was published in The journal NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY.