Energy Storage

Advances in energy storage devices will likely be achieved through improvements in material systems.  ORNL is a world leader in materials development. Through this tradition, ORNL is making contributions towards developing low-cost, better-performing energy storage devices.  Innovative tools, such as in-situ transmission electron microscopes, can help scientists and engineers better understand electrochemical reactions at materials interfaces and will assist in improving system performance.

Super capacitors or ultra capacitors are reversible energy storage devices that have instantaneous power densities more significant than batteries and energy densities larger than dielectric capacitors. Additionally, they can be charged/discharged more than 100,000 times without significant energy loss. Ultra capacitors are attractive for a wide variety of power applications such as hybrid electric vehicles or power quality. Carbon materials have been shown as attractive electrode materials for super capacitors, due to their relatively low cost, high surface area, and availability.  ORNL has established innovative approaches to carbon electrodes to increase surface area, thereby improving power densities.

Photo: GridPoint battery used in zero-energy Habitat for Humanity homes