Rice University lab creates energy storage that may find use
in oil discovery, space, military applications
Clay, an abundant and cheap natural material, is a key
ingredient in a supercapacitor that can operate at very high temperatures,
according to Rice University researchers who have developed such a device.
The Rice group of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan
reported today in Nature’s online journal, Scientific Reports, that the
supercapacitor is reliable at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius (392
degrees Fahrenheit) and possibly beyond. It could be useful for powering
devices for use in extreme environments, such as oil drilling, the military and
space.