Rice University Researchers Perfect Paint That Acts as Battery – Video
A team of researchers at Rice University have developed what could revolutionize any battery-powered product for decades to come.
While it may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, the paintable battery is indeed real and opens up the world to turning any surface into a storage device. Without getting too technical, the technique essentially turns any surface into a lithium-ion battery and can be combined with solar cells to provide a charge.
The team spent hours formulating, mixing, and testing paints for the five layers that compromise the battery: two current collectors, a cathode, an anode, and a polymer separator in the middle. To test the concept, the materials were applied on various types of material including ceramic bathroom tiles, flexible polymers, glass, stainless steel, and even a beer stein (cheers!).
As a proof of concept, nine ceramic tiles were spray painted and connected in parallel. The team then topped one of the tiles with a solar cell that converted power from a standard white laboratory light. Once the batteries were fully charged from the solar panel and house current, the batteries were able to power a series of LEDs for six hours and the batteries had no problems providing a steady 2.4 volts.
Obviously the use of this could be game changing in many industries, but its potential impact on the automotive industry could be huge.
Watch a video demonstrating the process below.
[Source: Rice University News]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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