Silicon and Carbon Composite Material In Lithium Ion Batteries for High Capacity and Long Cycle Life

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reports on its study on the use of composite silicon and carbon materials as anodes for high capacity and long cycle lithium ion batteries. This research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

Abstract: Fundamental microstructural designing concepts for high capacity and long cycle life of anode materials based on carbon and silicon for lithium ion battery

Chongmin Wang, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Phone: 509-371-6268
Email: Chongmin.wang@pnnl.gov

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research on Using Silicon as Alternative Anode Materials

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports on its research on carbon cross-linked Si/SiC nanospheres as the network building block and conducting film in lithium ion batteries. This research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society

Abstract: Carbon cross-linked Si/SiC nanosphere as advanced anode of lithium-ion batteries

Junhong Chen, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Phone: 414-229-2615
Email: jhchen@uwm.edu

University of Houston Presents Improving Energy Density and Cycle of Life of Silicon Anodes with Nanotechnology

The University of Houston presented its research on the improvemen of energy density and cycle of life of silicon anodes. It was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. The abstract of the research follows:

High energy density silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries: Combining hollow nanospheres with conductive polymer binder

Yan Yao, University of Houston
Phone: 713-743-4432
Email: yyao4@uh.edu

University of Southern California Presents Research on Porous Structured Silicon as Anode Material In Li-Ion Batteries

The University of Southern California presented its research on porous structured silicon as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. This research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. The abstract on the porous structured silicon material follows:
Porous structured silicon for lithium-ion battery anode

Chongwu Zhou, University of Southern California
Phone: 213-740-4708
Email: chongwuz@usc.edu

Organic Ferroelectric Molecule Developed As An Alternative To Silicon For Semiconductors

Electrical response overlaid on the newly characterized organic molecular crystal.
Credit: Jiangyu Li, University of Washington

Diisopropylammonium bromide is a new organic molecule synthesized from bromine, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen that may be an alternative to silicon for use in semiconductors and other memory, sensing and low-cost energy storage applications.

Organic molecules are molecules that contain carbon. Carbon is a versatile atom and can attach easily to other atoms (forming 4 covalent bonds). The science of designing, synthesizing, characterizing, and developing applications for molecules that contain carbon is called organic chemistry.

Organic molecules are often associated with living things but for organic compounds this is not necessarily the case. The term comes from the old belief that certain compounds and molecules require a "life-force" of a living thing to be generated. The belief has been discredited but the term still remains.

Organic chemistry applications range from the medical to the industrial. One role of organic chemists is to synthesize and develop new molecules that will address a problem or enhance a product.

Synthetic organic compounds usually carry properties that enhance a process, mitigate or address a design/process flaw, or solve a problem. Most of these applications can be seen in pharmaceutical and consumer products.

Silicon Based Photovoltaic (Solar Cell) Fiber Leads To Electricity Generating Fabrics

Optical fiber, thinner than human hair, has been developed with photovoltaic properties which may give rise to fabric that can generate electricity. The fiber which is silicon based acts on the principle of solar cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy.

According to Neils Bohr, using the model of a hydrogen atom, an electron (-) orbits a stationary proton (+) in certain fixed orbits held by an electric force . When an electron jumps to a higher or lower orbit (called a quantum leap), it expends or absorbs energy (in the form of light).

Energy is needed for the electron to jump to a higher orbit where it has higher energy levels. When the electron moves to an orbit closer to the proton, energy is released.

Using this principle, a simplified explanation of how a silicon solar cell works would be that when a silicon solar cell absorbs light from the sun, the electron jumps from a higher orbit to a lower orbit which in turn gives off electrical energy.

A more detailed explanation is featured in the embedded video.

For years, the solar cell has been used to harness the suns energy to produce electrical energy. As technology evolves, solar cells have become much more efficient and cost effective in the alternative-energy industry. In 2011, solar power accounted for a total US$147 billion in investments and generated around 69.7 Gigawatts of energy globally.

Silicon Anodes For Three Times More Efficient Lithium Ion Batteries Being Developed

Lithium Ion batteries are ubiquitous in the world today. Most, if not all, electronic devices run on lithium ion batteries. Even electric powered cars run on these kind of batteries.

Li-ion batteries are popular because of their proven track record in long battery life and battery performance due to their energy density slow loss of charge when not in use.

These batteries can be used individually or arranged as part of a group of cells to power electric or hybrid vehicles.

Qubit On A Silicon Based Transistor For Quantum Computing Developed

The next evolution in computers is the quantum computer. With quantum computers, processors within utilize properties of atoms as dictated by quantum mechanics.

Classical computers (computers used today) use bits. Bits can be assigned either a 0 state or a 1 state to create a binary code. Using the 0 or 1 state, calculations are performed, information can be processed, and instructions followed.

Quantum computers use a different kind of bit; the qubit. Atoms generate spin, an up-spin and a down-spin, just like a regular computer bit, the up-spin and down-spin is similar to the 0 or 1 state. What makes the qubit special is that it also has a state called Superposition where the qubit is both up and down at the same time.

It is this superposition that makes quantum computing possible. An example would be an instruction to dial one million numbers. The classical computer would go about this by dialing the numbers one at a time. A quantum computer would dial all numbers in one step.

Technology is still far from constructing a practical quantum computer but each day, new developments are bringing it closer and closer to fruition. Early stage quantum computers the size of a room have already been built.

An often used principle when it comes to quantum computing is Moore's law. Moore's Law states that computer processing power continues to double every 18 months. This means that by the year 2030 or earlier, we will find that the circuits on a microprocessor will approach the atomic scale and quantum computing will be the norm.

Single-atom writer a landmark for quantum computing

A research team led by Australian engineers has created the first working quantum bit based on a single atom in silicon, opening the way to ultra-powerful quantum computers of the future.

In a landmark paper published today in the journal Nature, the team describes how it was able to both read and write information using the spin, or magnetic orientation, of an electron bound to a single phosphorus atom embedded in a silicon chip.

"For the first time, we have demonstrated the ability to represent and manipulate data on the spin to form a quantum bit, or 'qubit', the basic unit of data for a quantum computer," says Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak. "This really is the key advance towards realising a silicon quantum computer based on single atoms."