Scalable fabrication of high-power graphene micro-supercapacitors for flexible and on-chip energy storage

Maher F. El-Kady & Richard B. Kaner

Nature Communications 4, Article number: 1475 doi:10.1038/ncomms2446

Received 01 October 2012 Accepted 04 January 2013 Published 12 February 2013

Abstract

Abstract Author information Supplementary information Comments

The rapid development of miniaturized electronic devices has increased the demand for compact on-chip energy storage. Microscale supercapacitors have great potential to complement or replace batteries and electrolytic capacitors in a variety of applications. However, conventional micro-fabrication techniques have proven to be cumbersome in building cost-effective micro-devices, thus limiting their widespread application. Here we demonstrate a scalable fabrication of graphene micro-supercapacitors over large areas by direct laser writing on graphite oxide films using a standard LightScribe DVD burner. More than 100 micro-supercapacitors can be produced on a single disc in 30 min or less. The devices are built on flexible substrates for flexible electronics and on-chip uses that can be integrated with MEMS or CMOS in a single chip. Remarkably, miniaturizing the devices to the microscale results in enhanced charge-storage capacity and rate capability. These micro-supercapacitors demonstrate a power density of ~200 W cm−3, which is among the highest values achieved for any supercapacitor.

via Scalable fabrication of high-power graphene micro-supercapacitors for flexible and on-chip energy storage : Nature Communications : Nature Publishing Group.

UCLA researchers develop new technique to scale up production of graphene micro-supercapacitors

By Davin Malasarn February 19, 2013

Kaner and El-Kady’s micro-supercapacitors

While the demand for ever-smaller electronic devices has spurred the miniaturization of a variety of technologies, one area has lagged behind in this downsizing revolution: energy-storage units, such as batteries and capacitors.

Now, Richard Kaner, a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Maher El-Kady, a graduate student in Kaner’s laboratory, may have changed the game.

The UCLA researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique that uses a DVD burner to fabricate micro-scale graphene-based supercapacitors —  devices that can charge and discharge a hundred to a thousand times faster than standard batteries. These micro-supercapacitors, made from a one-atom–thick layer of graphitic carbon, can be easily manufactured and readily integrated into small devices such as next-generation pacemakers.

via UCLA researchers develop new technique to scale up production of graphene micro-supercapacitors / UCLA Newsroom.

Kazi, a student in mechanical dept, and I have started a research project called Sustainable Waste Management.  https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/wastemanagement/