Oct-04-14
By combining a battery and solar cell into one device, researchers have created the first solar battery—a solar cell able to store its own power.
Developed by a team from Ohio State University, the key to the new battery is its titanium gauze mesh solar panel that has been coated with vertical nanorods of titanium dioxide. The rods capture sunlight, creating electrons that decompose lithium peroxide into lithium ions and oxygen. The oxygen is then released into the air, while the charged lithium ions are stored as lithium metal in the battery. When the battery is discharged, it absorbs more oxygen from the air and re-forms the lithium peroxide—allowing the cycle to begin again.
According to Yiying Wu, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio State, "Basically, it's a breathing battery," Wu said. "It breathes in air when it discharges, and breathes out when it charges."
More Info about this Invention:
[
CLEANTECHNICA.COM]
[
EUREKALERT.ORG]
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