Entrepreneurial Businesses You Never Thought to Start

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

There are countless opportunities out there for the creative entrepreneur. In fact, according to Forbes, approximately 543,000 businesses are started every month. 

With so many small businesses opening all the time, it can be hard to think of an idea that hasn't been driven into the ground. Here are just a few interesting entrepreneurial businesses that you might not have thought of.

Food Truck

Food trucks are springing up all over the country, and for a good reason. A study by Intuit and Emergent Research states that the total revenue from food trucks is predicted to reach as high as $2.7 billion in 2017. Why are food trucks such a great opportunity? They are much less expensive to operate and own than a traditional restaurant and can go where the crowds are instead of being a slave to location. With the right skills and knowledge, as well as a small starting investment, an entrepreneurial restaurateur can make his way on four wheels.

Photo by David Stanley via Wikimedia Commons

Gunsmithing

Gunsmithing is the noble art of designing, repairing, modifying and building guns and other firearms. Gunsmiths are skilled craftsmen who offer a service that cannot be done by untrained hands. They often do custom work for clients based on their specific needs. While gunsmithing does require special education, many school offer career diplomas in gunsmithing, and Penn Foster even offers a program that can be completed in just three months. Making money as a gunsmith requires drive, dedication and knowledge— and it doesn't hurt to have previous training in metal or plastic fabrication.

Electronics Recycling

While most homes have a recycling bin that can be used for papers, plastics and glass, they do not have curbside recycling for used electronics. Used batteries and electronics can be dangerous to the environment if they aren't disposed of correctly, and most people do not want to drive to the electronic recycling facilities. By offering your services as a private recycler, you can charge to pick up customers electronics and drive them to local recycling facilities. Chances are, you won't run out of business any time soon — Investopedia reports that we generate more than 2 million pounds of electronics waste every year in the form of discarded computers, cell phones and other devices.

Photo by Bluedisk via Wikimedia Commons

Translation Services

We are living in a global marketplace and one of the best ways to take advantage of the now-international business community is to offer your skills as a translator. Obviously, working as a translator requires that you speak at least two languages fluently and requires that you have a good grasp of cultural ideas so that idioms and turns of phrase aren't lost on you. Interpreting for two speakers in the same room requires a focus to attention and swift wits, but translating the written word for overseas businesses is also a viable form of translation services. If you've ever used an automated translator program to decode a webpage in another language, you can see how valuable the services of a real-life thinking, adaptive human translator are. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Best Tools For Construction Project Management

Honored reader, it’s so good to see you’ ve returned! What ideas do you have? Let us know in the comments. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts.

*by andreascy*

How To Care For Your Motorola Batteries

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Motorola batteries are manufactured using the latest cutting-edge production technology. The batteries enable smooth two way radio communication and you must take good care of them. Here are some battery care tips that will help you optimize performance: 

1. Always charge your batteries in the night before using them in the day. This process is referred to as “initializing,” and it helps you derive maximum mileage from your Motorola batteries. Here are a couple of specific tips: Charge Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries for about 15 hours; Continue charging Lithium Ion/Polymer batteries for up to 2 hours after the charger light glows steady-green.

2. Motorola has launched IMPRES batteries, which come with an Impres charger. This charger shows the calibration cycle, which glows yellow till the battery is fully charged – and then it goes green. Remember, you should not stop the charging process or remove the batteries until they are completely charged (a steady green light indicates that the batteries are fully charged). Leave non-Impres batteries for an extra 1-2 hours in the charger after the steady-green light materializes.

3. New batteries that have yet to be initialized must be stored in cool, dry and very well ventilated place. This will kill any potential capacity loss and enhance battery cycle life. If you follow these rules, you can store Nickel Cadmium up to 2 years and Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium Ion/Polymer for up to 1.5 years.

4. If you want to remove used Motorola batteries from service for more than 30 days then you should ensure that such batteries are 50% discharged. After removing batteries, store them in a cool and dry place.

5. If you intend to use batteries that have been in storage for over two months, then you must fully discharge and then recharge these. Remember to follow the charging protocols specified in #1 above.

6. Never leave your 100% charged battery in the charger because that will shorten battery life. Also, refrain from using the charger as a radio stand.

7. Do not charge a battery when it is not required. The golden rule is - if it is not fully discharged, do not recharge it. Always carry a spare to overcome this problem.

8. Before recharging Motorola batteries ensure that the room temperature is stable at around 72 degrees F. Do not charge batteries when temperatures are below 40 degrees F or above 104 degrees F.

SEE ALSO: TED - Liquid Battery - The Battery of the Future

These tips will help you take better care of your Motorola batteries. Like what you're reading? Like us on Facebook for more!

*by andreascy*

Magnetic Imaging Device Makes Electric Currents Visible

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

DigInfoTV presented a research team in Kobe University's Graduate School of Science, led by Associate Professor Kenji Kimura, that has developed a magnetic imaging device that makes electric currents visible. The device will go on sale in summer 2012. 

"This device gives a picture showing where electric currents are flowing in a circuit. In some cases, we've actually converted the images to measurements. When you charge a battery, electricity accumulates inside, and using this device, you can see where it accumulates. When a battery's been used for a long time, it ages, and it can't be charged anymore. This device shows where inside the battery is damaged and can't be charged. You can do diagnostics, like with X-rays and MRI in hospitals, but for batteries instead. That's the kind of device we're actually presenting here."

The main feature of this device is, it measures magnetism arising from inside the battery, and uses that data to solve Maxwell's equations in 3D. Solving these basic equations for electric and magnetic fields gives a clear picture of how electricity moves deep inside the battery. Professor Kimura's group is currently considering how to utilize the magnetic imaging device for batteries.

"There are lots of high-performance batteries. But while they're being used, their performance deteriorates. The causes and locations of battery deterioration aren't well understood. But if we can see what's happening inside, it'll be possible to make batteries with very high performance."

Also, in the near future, the researchers plan to start developing medical diagnostic equipment.

"At hospitals, MRI and CT scans are done inside a chamber. For MRI, the patient has to keep still for 20 minutes or so. With our method, internal imaging is done by measuring magnetism from the surface. We think that, using this method, abnormalities inside the body could be detected very fast - and with high resolution."

This device will be marketed and manufactured by Integral Geometry Instruments, a Kobe University venture. The company aims to tie up with electronics companies and automakers, and in due course, with medical instrument manufacturers. The price for this system hasn't been decided yet, but it's expected to be 20-30 million yen ($250,000-375,000).

All right everyone, hope you've liked our story, and we'll catch up with you again soon. Kindly share this story with your friends.

*by andreascy*

Chemistry World : Making graphene supercapacitors with a DVD writer

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Imagine having an energy storage device that stores as much energy as a conventional battery, yet, can be charged 100 to 1000 times faster. 

Supercapacitors store charge in electrochemical double layers whereas batteries store charge through electrochemical reactions. Although supercapacitors can charge and discharge much faster than batteries, they are still limited by low energy densities and slow rate capabilities. 

Researchers at UCLA have successfully used an inexpensive precursor (graphite oxide) to produce high-performance graphene-based supercapacitors using a computerized LightScribe DVD drive. 

These devices exhibit ultrahigh energy density values in different electrolytes approaching those of batteries, yet they can be charged in seconds. 

The devices can be charged and discharged for more than 10,000 cycles without losing much in performance compared with a normal life-time of less than 1000 cycles typical for batteries. Additionally, the devices are completely flexible and maintain excellent performance under high mechanical stress.

Read more at :

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2012/March/graphene-dvd-player-burn-supercapacitor.asp

Check also :

UF : Researchers envision a promising new technique - Writing graphene circuitry with ion "pens"

*by andreascy*

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX : Video Playback and GPS Navigation Test

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX is a slightly thicker twin of the DROID RAZR, coming with a larger battery to boost its battery life. All other specifications remain the same. It's fast processor pushes the phone's Android OS with speed and agility. Paired with a connection to Verizon's 4G LTE data, this phone really flies!

For someone like me who owns a real camera for when the photography urge strikes, I'd run, not walk, to the DROID RAZR MAXX, since its combination of speed, longevity, and killer design is awe-inspiring.  

But the real reason to buy the RAZR MAXX is actually its massive mammoth 3300mAh battery, which is unfortunately not user-removable. Specifically, you'll be able to stream YouTube video for up to 13 hours, or enjoy GPS navigation for 8 hours. Two words: holy smokes. That's right -- we found ourselves in awe, wondering where this phone had been our whole lives.

Watch as the DROID RAZR MAXX demolishes the competition in a battery drain Video Playback and GPS Navigation test.

Video Playback Test :

GPS Navigation Test :

Our hats go off to Motorola - the RAZR MAXX offers endurance that competing smartphones can only dream of. Power users who need to have the longest lifetime possible will have no choice but to pick it. How long will it be before some phone dethrones the Motorola RAZR MAXX?

*by andreascy* 

TED : Liquid Battery - The Battery of the Future

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

A liquid battery that runs on dirt could be the answer to sustainable energy. Dr. Donald Sadoway of MIT has developed an innovative new battery technology, which could change the future of renewable energy. 

Professor Donald Sadoway is building liquid metal batteries to try to separate power supply from power demand. The goal is to help the electrical power grid do a better job of storing energy, including renewable energy. 

Sadoway dreamed up the idea of combining magnesium and antimony, a process he diagrammed at TED with chalk on a blackboard. Among other benefits, like cheap materials and long lifespans, liquid metal batteries are built to run hot, so they can handle temperature increases.

Sadoway’s research team - which is now also a company funded by Bill Gates - has created a pizza-shaped 16-inch cell battery with a capacity of 1 kilowatt hour, and it expects to manufacture a version four times as big in two years, Sadoway said.

*by andreascy*

TED : Donald Sadoway - The missing link to renewable energy

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What's the key to using alternative energy, like solar and wind? Storage - so we can have power on tap even when the sun's not out and the wind's not blowing. In this accessible, inspiring talk, Donald Sadoway takes to the blackboard to show us the future of large-scale batteries that store renewable energy. 

As he says: "We need to think about the problem differently. We need to think big. We need to think cheap."

*by andreascy*

Accutronics : Smart Li-Ion Batteries the Size of a Credit Card

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Accutronics has launched two new lithium-ion batteries in its Intellion series of credit card sized batteries. Designed to provide a high level of functionality and safety the CC2300 and CC3800 batteries allow integration of smart lithium ion battery into handheld portable products with minimal effort and cost.

The batteries feature an active electronic protection system that prevents them from being overcharged, over discharged or short circuited and to ensure that the battery will remain safe if externally abused. In addition, they have an impedance tracking fuel gauge that constantly tracks battery status, providing information such as remaining battery capacity, state of charge, run time to empty, battery voltage and temperature.

The new batteries fulfill the requirements of IEC 62133 and UN 38.3 to ensure compliance with international safety and transportation standards and they are excepted from Dangerous Goods regulations. Comprehensive technical back-up and accessories are available to help OEM designers integrate the batteries into their systems.

*by andreascy*

Sony: New Concept Envisions in 2030 With Pay As You Go Power

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Sony is looking to revolutionize the inefficient way in which we consume power.

A new concept video from the electronics giant shows how we could use power more efficiently in the year 2030 by switching to smart outlets with authentication and wireless charging on a broad scale, assuming we survive the Zombie Mayan Apocalypse.

The prototype power outlet, integrated with a short-range wireless FeliCa transmitter (and a new RFID over power line technology), allows the user to swipe a pay card across the faceplate and pay for energy on the spot. What makes it truly interesting is if humankind keeps progressing towards alternative energies (such as wind, solar, and biomass), then our outlets could give us options as to what source from which we obtain our power.

The video description below notes that with this outlet, "the user can actively control and manage power consumption on a user basis as well as on a device basis."

Imagine not having to use power from the electric company for a TV-viewing session, instead drawing from a battery in your house that contains stored power from your solar- and wind-power generation sources. These outlets, if available all over a city, can offer people with electric cars the ability to charge up and pay for that energy easily.

The proposed power control center app (for tablet or smartphone) would enable consumers to observe how much power is available from various power sources in the home. With the app, one could check how much juice the electric car in the garage contains, enable or disable outlets in various areas of the house, or remotely control devices connected to a power outlet.

In a recent press conference in Tokyo, reps at Sony spoke about the developments, says AV Watch (check out their hands-on pics, too). A timetable for commercializing these smart outlets seems "ten years away," according to Taro Tadano from Sony Japan's business development department. Admittedly, he wants to speed up the process of development and integration, but reliability, safety, and patent battles present several roadblocks.

While the overall idea seems grand, one must also wonder about cost.

Regardless, he and many others at Sony are working hard to strengthen relationships with various Japanese companies related to this field with hope of moving this past the concept stage and into reality. 

One cannot help but admire the craveworthy Sony concept products (from 2030) also shown in the video, such as: a TV that you turn on by facing a wall and drawing a rectangle with your hand, a flexible tablet, and easy wireless charging.

ARTICLE OF THE DAY: Some Emergent Internet Applications

Feel free to Like, Share & Comment! 👍

*by andreascy*

Apple Submits Mobile Hydrogen Fuel Cell Patent

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Apple has submitted a patent request to the US Patent and Trademark Office that aim to replace lithium batteries in handheld computers with hydrogen fuel cells.

Until now we’ve only thought of hydrogen fuel cells in cars, but there is no reason why they couldn’t work in any device. The replacement cells would in fact be smaller and provide power for days or weeks! Microprocessor manufacturers like ARM are constantly battling to not only create faster chips, but also ones which use less power. A better power source could potentially allow them to drastically increase the speed of mobile devices.

Apple justifies the new technology saying that the United States is required to maintain relationships with corrupt governments which supply the chemicals in lithium batteries. They’ve obviously also sparked by the recent oil spill of which an oil rig, subcontracted by BP, caused massive damage to the US coastline. 

According to two published Apple patent applications, called "Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device" and "Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device," Apple is looking to build lighter and smaller mobile devices like MacBooks (Air, Pro) by replacing current batteries with a fuel cell system.

This may not come as a surprise to many, since Apple has filed other patent applications for lighter hydrogen fuel cells. Those patents, which were brought to light this past October, described a building process where multiple fuel cells are connected by a power bus in a parallel pattern, and a voltage-multiplying circuit is added for additional voltage to the stack. 

Now, Apple hopes to utilize these lighter, more efficient fuel cells in its mobile products in an effort to promote renewable energy sources and offer devices with the ability to run for days or even weeks without refueling, according to the patent applications. The devices will also be lighter and less bulky due to the lack of traditional batteries.

The first patent application, "Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device," states Apple's case for wanting to use fuel cell technology in their devices. While current fuel cell technology for mobile products requires the user to carry a fuel cartridge for recharging purposes, Apple wants to integrate fuel cells right into their electronics.

The second patent application, "Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device," describes how the fuel cell system would work with a rechargeable battery where one would power the other when necessary, and vice versa.

"This eliminates the need for a bulky and heavy battery within the fuel system, which can significantly reduce the size, weight, and cost of the fuel system," said the second patent application. "This fuel system includes a fuel stack cell which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system."

One challenge will be creating a hydrogen fuel cell system that is cost-effective, according to Apple. 

Sources : CNET, Apple Insider

*by andreascy*

Will Super Capacitors and Batteries be Coupled to a Hybrid Soon?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Almost everyone is familiar with the annoying need to replace the battery or to charge it. It can be the notebook during a presentation, a wireless or cellular phone stopping during a very important conversation with a customer, or a camera in the middle of taking pictures. There are endless incidents of that kind that we face as consumers and users. 

In Industrial Electronics there are many, most harmful battery failures, causing disturbances and security threats. From one side, batteries are not capable supplying high current pulses, from the other side most communication devices are power hungry, demanding high current pulses. Batteries are aimed to supply voltage continuously while delivering high current pulses is damaging their chemistry and shortening life time.

Many electronic devices are using communication protocols that are defined by various current pulses like GSM , Zigbi and WiFi. Other electronic devices such as digital camera or Smartphone need high current during a snapshot to operate the shutter, the flash led or data transmission. One of the best existing solutions today for extending battery life is Pulse Supercapacitors (SC).

A pulse supercapacitor is an “Energy storage” component with high capacitance and low internal resistance (ESR) that unlike a battery is built to deliver pulses of current almost endlessly (hundreds of thousands of charge/discharge cycles) and can be calmly recharged by a battery during the standby time between the pulses.

Hybrids of Battery and SC are coming more and more popular and recognized by the engineers. There are three limiting issues though :

1. Size and shape

Most of Pulse SCs in the market are cylindrical and large in size to be integrated in the miniature trendy market.

2. Environment friendliness

Some of the Pulse SCs contain organic electrolytes and solvents are harmful, flammable and not accepted environmentally (i.e. Acetonitrile which is used in organic electrolyte based SCs).

3. Cost

Pulse SCs are known to be expensive and as so, are not able to join most of consumer electronics bills of materials.

All these three issues were challenged by Cellergy Ltd. Cellergy manufactures its SCs by implementing Printing technology that enables to build flat, thin and in a wide range of sizes down to 12X12.5 mm, yet the smallest form factor of Pulse SCs in the market. Their SCs contain aqueous electrolyte and are green products.

Cellergy’s patented manufacturing process is based on Automation and Robotics, which helps to reduce costs to a level that enables them to be integrated not only in industrial products but also in consumer electronics. Partial list of Cellergy’s SCs applications can show the large penetration into the electronic industry. Check it out :

(a) Industrial Electronics :

- Automated metering (AMR)

- GSM/GPRS Modules

- M2M communication

- Active RFID for animals tracking, vehicles tracking, prisoners tracking, medical equipment tracking, and container tracking, etc.

- Medical drug delivery pumps

- Fuel Automated payment solutions

- Wireless computers mouse and keyboards

- Home security

- Home Automation

- Electronic locks

- Irrigation control

Energy harvesting for sensors

- Energy harvesting for mechanical movement operations

- LaserRangefinders for civil and for military applications

- Military pulse applications

- Cellular communication and led flash

(b) Consumer Electronics :

- Personal Pagers

- Sound improvement of loudspeakers

- Wireless audio devices

- PDA’s

Supercapacitors contribute to a breakthrough in power management design. The combination of batteries and supercapacitors enables the transmission of pulses of the many electronic devices surrounding us, and results in extending the life of batteries of those devices, thus lowering end customer expenses and making it affordable for use.

If you liked this article then feel free to discover even more here and share it with your social circles. Subscribe on our RSS feed for future updates straight to your inbox. Thank you for your support!

*by andreascy*

Fuel Cell Battery and Charger Combo (Portable)

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

While cars are making a shift to electricity in place of gasoline, engineers are actively looking for technologies that free consumers from the need to plug into electrical outlets when charging electronic and mobile devices.

This just in from myFC, a Swedish Fuel cell manufacturer is the new PowerTrekk fuel cell and battery combo, that provides enough power to charge a phone via usb. 

The energy is obtained from water via the fuel pack. By filling the PowerTrekk with water and connecting it to any USB mobile charger, whether a USB lamp, GPS or phone, charging begins automatically and shuts down once it has finished. The device has a lighted display on one side that indicates the level of power delivered. It also contains an internal battery. 

“This is a green product, because the only waste from it is water,” Westerholm points out. “When you are on the go you can always find water. It doesn’t matter if you have fresh water or salt, any type is good. It is green even in terms of construction, because we don’t need to use very much material to create sufficient power.” 

Specifications : 

Rated output : 5V, 1000 mA 

Rated input : 5V, 500 mA 

Internal buffer : Li-ion, 1600 mAh 

Fuel cell : PEM 4 cell unit 1000 mAh 

Charging input port : Micro USB 

Charging output port : USB-A

What i want to see are less expensive fuel cells. As we lower our energy consumption, the power companies just raise the rates, to protect their cash flows. Give us more "off the grid" options at reasonable cost. Actually the problem was never the availability of power. It's the abusive pricing structure imposed by the production/distribution syndicates. 

Let us know what you think.

*by andreascy*

Wireless Electric Cars

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Recharging On The Go. No More Plugs. 

Hi everyone! Looking for some Saturday morning reading? 

Soon parking and charging will be one. Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), a world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies, has acquired the technology and other assets (patents) of HaloIPT (a British start-up firm specialized in Inductive Power Transfer).

“Qualcomm has been investing in wireless power for a number of years and the HaloIPT acquisition will further strengthen our technology and patent portfolio,” said Andrew Gilbert, executive vice president of European Innovation Development for Qualcomm. 

Both are now working hard to put in place the infrastructure in electric road vehicles. 

HaloIPT is the first company in the world that enables wireless charging via an electromagnetic field (no wires). The firm says roads where electric cars batteries are wirelessly charged as a driver moves around are "technologically possible".

Wireless. Worriless. Limitless.

The wirelessly transmitted power goes to the car’s battery for an ongoing charge, similar to the concept of recharging an electric toothbrush but with a lot more energy. 

Each car is outfitted with a pad underneath the car that is ready to receive power. It could enable all electric cars to run without ever needing to recharge manually. Just park over an inductive plate and you’re done. 

The cost of getting such charging lanes to most of the UK's population would be around £60bn.

The company outlines it's vision in this video. Arup, the engineering design giant, helped develop HaloIPT wireless charging technology for electric vehicles in conjunction with the University of Auckland's Uniservices group. Have a quick look on the video below:

Want to know more? If you enjoy The *Official AndreasCY*, then you should get to know us better! Please, share this story with friends, family, and the world. We also have a list of 30 badass articles right here and here. 

*by andreascy*

Nocera’s Solar Leaf Revisited

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

MIT scientist Daniel Nocera has released new publicity around his solar leaf concept. The basic idea is that instead of converting sunlight to electricity and storing it in a battery, use the electricity to split hydrogen from water allowing the hydrogen to be used in a hydrogen fuel cell. An inherently lossy process which will require a system to keep hydrogen and oxygen separated until it can be directed into the fuel cell for conversion back to electricity. Theoretically it could provide an almost permanent supply of electricity and stored energy if combined with a rain water capture system. However due to the lossiness of the conversion process it does seem to be running at a significant disadvantage to normal electricity storage in the form of a Lithium Ion battery. However as it is using a fuel cell that probably requires at least some rare earth elements during the manufacturing process which will of course contribute greatly to the amount of energy consumed to completely make the system.

In the meantime a Japanese company has already taken the process to it’s inevitable conclusion and produced a full scale home sized hydrogen conversion system. They claim that with a solar panel, 1500 cc of water and their hydrogen conversion and storage system they can provide 5000 KwH of electricity which is around that amount that an average home would use during a night. 5000 KwH is approx enough stored energy to provide 16 hours of electricity to an average home PC with a 300 watt power supply. However if you add a refrigerator or washing machine into the mix you start to see some significant decreases in energy supply time. The main benefit of this system is that it can be run simply on water and solar. Once the investment is made it will provide around 50 years of constant supply of energy as long as you don’t need to use more than 5000 KwH of energy between charges. If connected to a rain water capture system it is theoretically a 50 year life cycle version of a perpetual mobile. It will no doubt be very useful as a replacement for fossil fuels in low energy consuming households. Combined with a larger solar hot water and electricity storage system and you would be able to live with a degree of energy security.

If Nocera has a better and cheaper more energy efficient system up his sleeve he is keeping the details to himself at the moment. No doubt he is still waiting for approval from MIT to do something actually useful for a change. The general rule of thumb with anything from MIT is that it never actually gets anywhere other than securing more funding for the scientists involved in the projects.

*by andreascy*

World's first energy-storage membrane outstrips existing rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

A Singaporean Research team has come up with a novel and highly efficient energy storage system which looks certain to replace all known forms of energy storage once manufacturing is underway

Researchers from the NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) have developed the world's first energy-storage membrane, answering the need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy storage and delivery solutions. 

The research team, led by Principal Investigator Dr Xie Xian Ning, used a polystyrene-based polymer to deposit the soft, foldable membrane converted from organic waste which, when sandwiched between and charged by two graphite plates, can store charge at 0.2 farads per square centimetre. This capability was well above the typical upper limit of 1 microfarad per square centimetre for a standard capacitor. The cost involved in energy storage is also drastically reduced with this invention, from about US$7 to store each farad using existing technologies based on liquid electrolytes to about US$0.62 per farad. 

Dr Xie said: "Compared to rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, the proprietary membrane allows for very simple device configuration and low fabrication cost. Moreover, the performance of the membrane surpasses those of rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion and lead-acid batteries, and supercapacitors." 

Supported by grants from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) and the National Research Foundation, the research took about one and a half years to reach its current status and the team has also successfully filed a US patent for this novel invention. 

The discovery has also attracted the attention of scientific journals worldwide, and was featured in Energy & Environmental Science and highlighted by renowned international journal Nature. 

"With the advent of our novel membrane, energy storage technology will be more accessible, affordable, and producible on a large scale. It is also environmentally-friendly and could change the current status of energy technology," Dr Xie said. 

Going forward, the team will explore more applications for this efficient energy storage solution. It is also looking into opportunities to work with venture capitalists to commercialise the invention.

As usual there is no mention of how much energy it takes to create the membrane. However we can assume that it will scale fairly significantly based on the description of the base ingredients.

*by andreascy*