Tiny Springs Show Big Promise for Energy Storage
MIT Scientists find that CNTs formed into springs can store as much power as traditional batteries
The MIT research team led by mechanical engineer Carol Livermore has discovered that nanotube springs hold as much energy density as those of lithium-ion batteries. The use of CNTs to store power also has the potential for better durability and reliability. For some applications, batteries not only need to be tested to ensure they have full power, they have to be replaced or recharged when they run down. Energy that is stored in springs will remain the same over time. The research team has filed a patent on the technology, and their work so far has been funded by grants from the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation Ignition and by the MIT Energy Initiative.
