Credit: CC0 Public DomainKansas State University's Suprem das, assistant professor in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Christopher Sorensen (university distinguished professor in physics), have shown potential ways to make graphene-based nanoinks for additive manufacture of supercapacitors. These can be used to create flexible and printable electronics.Researchers around the globe are studying the possibility of supercapacitors replacing batteries. Das's team has another prediction. It is possible to adapt the team's work to incorporate them to overcome slow-charging of batteries. Das is also working on additive manufacturing of micro-supercapacitors, which could one day be used in wafer-scale silicon processing.Das stated that additive manufacturing is "funny, cost-effective, and offers flexible design considerations."Das stated that supercapacitors have been developed by Das and his team. They have been tested for charging and discharging 10,000 times. Das also said that the team is currently studying the versatility of micro-supercapacitors through printing on mechanically flexible surfaces. They used high-reliability 20-micrometer-hin polyimideplasticsubstrates. Das is very interested in translating new materials into devices.Das stated, "When you think of the best materials and want to make best devices it is not easy and straightforward." "One must then be able to understand the physics and chemistry behind devices."Das' invention also has the green benefits. He visualized them through constructive discussions and collaboration with Sorensen. He realized that he could make these materials useful by using his knowledge in additive manufacturing. In this instance, Das was able to create tiny energy storage devices.After developing a nanoink technology, Das applied for a U.S. Patent and used it to print micro-supercapacitors.Because of the highly efficient, highly scalable, and chemical-free natures of Sorensen's graphene production process as well as his group's graphene-ink manufacturing process, Das is keen to form this synergistic partnership with Sorensen. Das stated that both of these processes have been patented or patent-pending and are relevant to industry.Sorensen stated that multilayer graphene is made by detonating fuel rich mixtures of unsaturated carbons like acetylene and oxygen in a multiliter chamber. Our patented method is easy to use and requires little energy. It also does not require toxic chemicals.Graphene is a marvel material that has great potential. Graphene can be made in huge quantities using many graphene manufacturing techniques. Graphene is still not available on the market, according to technologists. This is because no of the methods has the right mix of economy, ecology, and product quality to enable graphene's potential. According to Sorensen, Das and Das, both the Kansas State University methods for producing graphene as well as nano-inks are on track to meet all these requirements.For supercapacitors with better performance, explore more graphene electrodesAdditional information: Anand P. S. Gaur et., Graphene Aerosol Gel Ink to Print Micro-Supercapacitors. ACS Applied Energy Materials (2021). Anand P. S. Gaur et. al., Graphene Aerosol Gel Ink to Print Micro-Supercapacitors. (2021). DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.1c00919
