Researchers have shown that twisted carbon nanotubes can store three times more energy per unit mass than advanced lithium-ion batteries. The finding may advance carbon nanotubes as a promising solution for storing energy in devices that need to be lightweight, compact, and safe, such as medical implants and sensors.

To investigate carbon nanotubes’ potential for storing energy, the researchers manufactured carbon nanotube ropes from bundles of commercially available nanotubes. After pulling and twisting the tubes into a single thread, the researchers then coated them with different substances intended to increase the ropes’ strength and flexibility.

The team tested how much energy the ropes could store by twisting them up and measuring the energy that was released as the ropes unwound. They found that the best-performing ropes could store 15,000 times more energy per unit mass than steel springs, and about three times more energy than lithium-ion batteries. The stored energy remains consistent and accessible at temperatures ranging from –76 to +212 °F (–60 to +100 °C). The materials in the carbon nanotube ropes are also safer for the human body than those used in batteries. (Image credit: Preety Ahuja/ UMBC)

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Topics:
Carbon nanotubes Electrical systems Energy storage systems Medical Medical equipment and supplies Medical, health and wellness Nanomaterials Nanotechnology Nanotechnology Power Management Prostheses and implants Sensors and actuators

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    This article first appeared in the November, 2024 issue of Medical Design Briefs Magazine (Vol. 14 No. 11).

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