Those clever boffins at MIT are developing carbon nanotube ultracapacitors which it is hoped will soon replace traditional batteries. The batteries of today are bulky, and must be frequently replaced. MIT is studying a new breed of ultracapacitors, which utilise carbon nanotubes generate and store energy, all at the atomic level. Ultimately, the goal is to create a new type of battery that is longer-lasting and faster-charging. The new CNT ultracapacitor will be able to store 60 watt-hours per kilogram, and could be recharged in just a few minutes.
Professors Joel Schindall and John Kassakian, along with Ph.D. candidate Riccardo Signorelli, presented their latest renditions of their research at a seminar on hybrid storage devices in Deerfield Beach, Florida, last December.