A fabric a day may keep energy storage problems away!
Words by: Michelle Charina Gomez
Layout by: Alvin Kyla Shen Chua
Thomasian chemist Celine Grace Causapin together with Dr. Felicidad Christina Ramirez and Dr. Christina Binag, of the University of Santo Tomas- College of Science saw light in using Abaca-cotton fabric with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) and Polyaniline-Polypyrrole complex layer (PAPY) as supercapacitor electrode material. The supercapacitor is an energy storage device known for its great power and stability.
The researchers investigated how the properties of these materials can create a renewable supercapacitor electrode and use hybrid composites as electrodes to assemble symmetric supercapacitor full cells. The results revealed that Abaca-cotton fabric coated with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polyaniline-polypyrrole complex layer was able to record an energy density (1.82 Wh/L) and power density (50.31 W/L) belonging to the suggested supercapacitor range of the Ragone plot. Hence, this was a promising discovery of an energy storage device with renewable and sustainable implications to the environment.
The study made an alarm by taking the first spot in Rapid fire competition- oral presentation (Materials science cluster) last August 14, 2020, during the 40th Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) anniversary and 2020 APAMS (Annual Scientific Meeting) Philippines.
As textile met science, it mended the hole for producing a renewable energy storage device that is soon accessible for all.
REFERENCES:
Causapin, C.G., Ramirez, F.C., & Binag, C. (2020). Abaca-Cotton Fabric with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polyaniline-Polypyrrole Complex Layer: A Greener Approach to Energy Storage. Manuscript in preparation.
Ramos, D. (2020, August 14). Greener energy storage made of abaca-cotton fabric, carbon nanotubes wins top prize in PAASE scientific posters competition -. https://darren.ust.edu.ph/greener-energy-storage-made-of-abaca-cotton-fabric-carbon-nanotubes-wins-top-prize-in-paase-scientific-posters-competition/
