Paper Battery

Presented ByNimisha Ahirwar 0309ec1027 ECE Final Year GEC, Rewa (M.P.)

Introduction
A paper battery is a flexible, ultra-thin energy storage and production device formed by combining carbon nanotube s with a conventional sheet of cellulosebased paper. A paper battery acts as both a high-energy battery and supercapacitor, combining two components that are separate in traditional electronics. This combination allows the battery to provide both long-term, steady power production and bursts of energy. Non-toxic, flexible paper batteries have the potential to power the next generation of electronics, medical devices and hybrid vehicles, allowing for radical new designs and medical technologies. Paper batteries may be folded, cut or otherwise shaped for different applications without any loss of integrity or efficiency. Cutting one in half halves its energy production. Stacking them multiplies power output. Early prototypes of the device are able to produce 2.5 volt s of electricity from a sample the size of a postage stamp A paper battery is a battery engineered to use a spacer formed largely of cellulose (the major constituent of paper). This technology can also be used in supercapacitors .It incorporates Nano scale structures to act as high surface-area electrodes to improve the conduction of electricity The continuously advancing technology of portable electronic devices asks for more flexible batteries to power them. Here is an ultra-thin and flexible quick charging battery named ORB, for Organic Radical Battery, a new energy storage device, that is only slightly bigger than the size of a stamp and can be bent and twisted, trimmed with scissors or molded into any needed shape. More than 90 percent of the device is made up of cellulose, The same plant cells used in newsprint, lunch bags, and nearly every other type of paper, making it environmentally safe. These are flexible and can be recharged in about 30 seconds.

Development The creation of this unique nanocomposite paper drew from a diverse pool of disciplines, requiring expertise in materials science, energy storage, and chemistry. In August 2007, a research team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (led by Drs. Robert Linhardt, the Ann and John H. Broadbent Senior Constellation Professor of Biocatalysis and Metabolic Engineering at Rensselaer; Pulickel M. Ajayan, professor of materials science and engineering; and Omkaram Nalamasu, professor of chemistry with a joint appointment in materials science and engineering) developed the paper battery. Senior research specialist Victor Pushparaj, along with postdoctoral research associates Shaijumon M. Manikoth, Ashavani Kumar, and Saravanababu Murugesan, were co-authors and lead researchers of the project. Other co-authors include research associate Lijie Ci and Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center Laboratory Manager Robert Vajtai. This cellulose based spacer is compatible with many possible electrolytes. Researchers used ionic liquid, essentially a liquid salt, as the batterys electrolyte, as well as naturally occurring electrolytes such as human sweat, blood, and urine. Ionic liquid, which contains no water, would mean that theres nothing in the batteries to freeze or evaporate, potentially allowing operation in extreme temperatures. Naturally occurring electrolytes might allow more biocompatible batteries. According to Pushparaj Its a way to power a small device such as a pacemaker without introducing any harsh chemicals such as the kind that are typically found in batteries into the body.

Making of the Battery Power Paper will work exactly like a traditional battery, but it will be nearly as thin as a piece of paper. A Power Paper cell can generate 1.5 volts of electricity, which is about the same output as a watch or calculator battery. A zinc and manganese dioxide (MnO2) based cathode and anode are fabricated from proprietary inks. Standard silkscreen printing presses are used to print the batteries onto paper and other substrates. Power Paper batteries are integrated into production and assembly processes of thin electronic devices.

Fig2. A Power Paper cell integrated with a sheet of paper

The paper is infused with aligned carbon nano tubes, which gives the device its black color. The tiny carbon filaments or nano tubes substitute for the electrodes used in a conventional battery use an ionic liquid solution as an electrolyte - the two components that conduct electricity.

 They use the cellulose or paper as a separator the third essential component of a battery.

Working of the Battery The nano tubes acting as electrodes allow the storage devices to conduct electricity.

Fig-4 Working

Electricity is the flow of electric power or electrons Chemical reaction in the paper battery is between electrolyte and carbon nano tubes. Electrons collect on the negative terminal of the battery and flow along a connected wire to the positive terminal, Batteries produce electrons through a chemical reaction between electrolyte and metal in the traditional battery.

 Electrons must flow from the negative to the positive terminal for the chemical reaction to continue. Ionic liquid, essentially a liquid salt, is used as the battery's electrolyte. Ionic liquid contains no water, which means there's nothing in the batteries to freeze or evaporate therefore allowing the paper energy storage devices to withstand The organic radical materials inside the battery are in an "electrolytepermeated gel state," which is about halfway between a solid and a liquid. This helps ions make a smooth move, reducing resistance, allowing the batteries to charge faster. 1 square centimeter will give you about 1 milli watt hour. You can stack one sheet on top of another to boost the power output. It's a single, integrated device .The components are molecularly attached to each other: the carbon nano tube print is embedded in the paper and the electrolyte is soaked into the paper.The end result is a device that looks, feels, and weighs the same paper.

DurabilityThe spacer is an integrated combination of spacer, and electrodes. Its essentially a regular piece of paper, but its made in a very intelligent way, said Linhardt, Were not putting pieces together its a single, integrated device, he said. The components are molecularly attached to each other: the carbon nanotube print is embedded in the paper, and the electrolyte is soaked into the paper. The end result is a device that looks, feels, and weighs the same as paper. Integrated devices The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). "Think of all the disadvantages of an old TV set with tubes," said Professor Linhardt, from the New York-based institute, who co-authored a report into the technology. "The warm up time, power loss, component malfunction; you don't get those problems with integrated devices. When you transfer power from one component to another you lose energy. But you lose less energy in an integrated device."

The battery contains carbon nanotubes, each about one millionth of a centimetre thick, which act as an electrode. The nanotubes are embedded in a sheet of paper soaked in ionic liquid electrolytes, which conduct the electricity. The flexible battery can function even if it is rolled up, folded or cut. Although the power output is currently modest, Professor Linhardt said that increasing the output should be easy.

Applications There are several applications for these Power Paper batteries, including Smart cards and tags: power papers can be laminated onto smart cards and other micro devices and replace ordinary tickets and tags. Used in Electronic games and entertainment devices

Disposable medical devices - Single-use delivery and diagnostic devices could have Power Paper incorporated into their construction to allow for sensors and smart labels. The paper batteries would be ideal for use in automobiles, aircraft and even boats because of their light weight.

 The paper could also be molded into different shapes, it can one day be used in IC cards, wearable computers etc The organic radical battery could be used in pocket-sized integrated circuit cards, used for memory storage and microprocessing. It will also open the way for small wearable computers.

Uses The paper-like quality of the battery combined with the structure of the nanotubes embedded within gives them their light weight and low cost, making them attractive for portable electronics, aircraft, automobiles, and toys (such as model aircraft). Their ability to use electrolytes in blood make them potentially useful for medical devices such as pacemakers. The medical uses are particularly attractive because they do not contain any toxic materials and can be biodegradable; a major drawback of chemical cells. However, Professor Sperling cautions that commercial applications may be a long way away, because nanotubes are still relatively expensive to fabricate. Currently they are making devices a few inches in size. In order to be commercially viable, they would like to be able to make them newspaper size; a size which, taken all together, would be powerful enough to power a car.

Advantages The batterys prime advantage is that it is cheap, thin, and flexible. It can generate a voltage of 1.5V. It is disposable with household wastes. The device can function in temperatures of 300 degrees Fahrenheit and down to 100 below zero, and is often used for industrial applications. The batteries are rechargeable. These have reduced cost and weight, which in itself may give birth to new applications. They can be recharged in about 30 seconds. Thin-film cells can be stored for decades.

Conclusion The range of possible applications for these batteries derives from their important advantages as compared to conventional battery technologies. They can be made in virtually any shape and size to meet the requirements of each application. The batteries are rechargeable, and have reduced cost and weight which in itself may give birth to new applications.

References V. L Pushparaj, S. M. Manikoth, A. Kumar, S. Murugesan, L. Ci, R. Vajtai, R. J. Linhardt, O. Nalamasu, P. M. Ajayan. "Flexible Nanocomposite Thin Film Energy Storage Devices". Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 104, 13574-13577, 2007.. Retrieved 2010-08-08. Katherine Noyes. "Nanotubes Power Paper-Thin Battery". TechNewsWorld. Retrieved 2010-10-29. "Beyond Batteries: Storing Power in a Sheet of Paper". RPI. August 13, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-15. "Paper battery offers future power". BBC News. August 14, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

Presented ByNimisha Ahirwar 0309ec1027 ECE Final Year GEC,Rewa (M.P.)