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Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

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Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#21

Post by Qwertious »

dTal wrote: post #15
rocqua wrote: post #6

IF this is true, it would be a massive breakthrough. Truly monumental. Hence, I am skeptical. But otherwise, this would be a massive thing. a 2x capacity per weight advantage of batteries? Without an increase in space? That comes down to doubling the range of EVs, and making electric planes and rockets a lot more viable. A 3x capacity per space advantage means roughly a 3x improvement in your phone and laptop battery…

What exactly is an "electric rocket"?

Presumably a rocket with a power source separated from its exhaust, and that flings its exhaust material out with an electrically-powered device.

So basically think of a 'reverse railgun'.

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#22

Post by MertsA »

dTal wrote: post #15
rocqua wrote: post #6

IF this is true, it would be a massive breakthrough. Truly monumental. Hence, I am skeptical. But otherwise, this would be a massive thing. a 2x capacity per weight advantage of batteries? Without an increase in space? That comes down to doubling the range of EVs, and making electric planes and rockets a lot more viable. A 3x capacity per space advantage means roughly a 3x improvement in your phone and laptop battery…

What exactly is an "electric rocket"?

Magic? Non-satirical response, there's companies like Rocket Lab that make electrically powered turbopumps to simplify their rocket engines but that comes with very steep power requirements. The Electron rocket literally has lithium ion packs that drop away from the rocket as they are depleted and the weight of those packs really starts to add up because those turbopumps use absolutely insane amounts of power to keep up with the pressure and fuel flow requirements of the engine.

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#23

Post by de_watcher »

Qwertious wrote: post #18

Articles like this is why I want a service which lets you "bookmark" the article and have it tell you whether it panned out a few years later. There's not much you can do here other than Defer Judgement yet again, at which point you'll have forgotten about it anyway.

The reddit RemindMe! bot.

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#24

Post by bamboozled »

Qwertious wrote: post #18

Articles like this is why I want a service which lets you "bookmark" the article and have it tell you whether it panned out a few years later. There's not much you can do here other than Defer Judgement yet again, at which point you'll have forgotten about it anyway.

If it pans out and is useful, I guess you will be using it by then ? Close too it anyway ?

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#25

Post by de_watcher »

dTal wrote: post #15
rocqua wrote: post #6

IF this is true, it would be a massive breakthrough. Truly monumental. Hence, I am skeptical. But otherwise, this would be a massive thing. a 2x capacity per weight advantage of batteries? Without an increase in space? That comes down to doubling the range of EVs, and making electric planes and rockets a lot more viable. A 3x capacity per space advantage means roughly a 3x improvement in your phone and laptop battery…

What exactly is an "electric rocket"?

Not counting turbopumps for chemical engines there is also an electric propulsion when in space.

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#26

Post by ClumsyPilot »

CarVac wrote: post #9

A 3x capacity increase is huuuge but a >10x cost increase is prohibitive except for applications like aircraft.

Medical devices, wireless headsets, phones, drones, various pro-grade cameras and gear - there are many devices where expensive batteries would still be economical.

For some apllications, you need fixed amount of power, perhaps you could have 3 times less batties, at 3x the price. That frees up space and reduces weight.

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#27

Post by choeger »

danmaz74 wrote: post #19

Actually good article if you continue reading. Comment from an independent expert: "Research has shown vertically aligned – or even just well distributed – carbon nanotubes have far greater properties than randomly placed carbon nanotubes," said Dr. Shearer. "I am not surprised a x10 in conductivity is possible. Controlling the placement of carbon nanotubes is really the way to unlock their potential. The issue in co…

Even if the cost was x100 of the current technique, if you could double energy density you would find applications. Remember that this is just a part of the total cost of a battery.

Re: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of lithium batteries

#28

Post by newyankee »

danmaz74 wrote: post #19

Actually good article if you continue reading. Comment from an independent expert: "Research has shown vertically aligned – or even just well distributed – carbon nanotubes have far greater properties than randomly placed carbon nanotubes," said Dr. Shearer. "I am not surprised a x10 in conductivity is possible. Controlling the placement of carbon nanotubes is really the way to unlock their potential. The issue in co…

Given that presumably Tesla's goal is to take battery costs down by 56% in 3 years from (108 - 140 $/kwh) to (50 - 70$/kwh) and widely held consensus is that 100$/kwh is the price point at which EVs are no brainer on upfront costs with ICE cars, i feel that there is a long way to go.

However, i think any successful real world demo starting with niche applications will help. We need all the battery tech to succeed.

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