R&D stepped up to develop high-grade batteries

MANILA, Philippines - A team of researchers from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and faculty members from the University of the Philippines Baguio are pursuing research and development (R&D) to boost the energy storage capacity of solar cells and develop a fast charging, high-capacity battery.

“Currently, we are experimenting on red and blue lasers to make graphene supercapacitors,” Ian Jasper Agulo, project leader, said.

The R&D effort is being supported by DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technologies Research and Development.

The battery, called graphene-based electrochemical supercapacitor, is a storage device that can charge at a faster rate and can store larger amounts of energy compared with ordinary batteries or capacitors.

Graphene is a thin layer of pure carbon with a single, tightly packed layer of atoms that stick together, forming a honeycomb shape. It is 100 times stronger than steel by weight and has extraordinary properties.

“What if you can charge your energy storage device in less than a minute?” asked Agulo of UP Baguio in a recent presentation.

He added that the battery’s inherent strength makes it possible to be charged quicker and discharged 100 times longer than ordinary batteries.

The abundance of carbon in the human body and in the universe makes graphene an ecologically friendly and sustainable source of material for many uses.

“Electric cars require high specific power storage device to work while mobile phones require high specific energy device to run a longer time. However, graphene-based electrochemical supercapacitors posses both these characteristics which is why it can be used on a wide range of consumer electronics and energy harvesting applications,” Agulo said.

The team emphasized that the graphene supercapacitor will complement lithium-ion devices as this will boost the battery’s capacity and enhance its charging capability.