Flexible Glass Improves Green Energy Storage

Jul-31-13 A flexible, clear glass able to store renewable energy at high temperatures could help increase interest in alternative energy options and electric cars.

Most modern capacitors are designed to operate at lower temperatures, which requires the addition of a bulky, heavy cooling system. In contrast, the new glass is able to function at temperatures up to, and beyond, 180 degrees Celsius.

Created by a team from Penn State, the glass is one-tenth the thickness of display glass currently on the market, and, at only 10 microns thick, can be produced in thin sheets by an inexpensive roll-to-roll process. The energy density of the glass was increased 2.5 times by a coating of high temperature polymers, which also improved its abilities to seal-heal, and it can be used in any high energy density capacitor application.

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[TREEHUGGER.COM]
[PENN STATE]

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