Ultrafast All-Polymer Paper-Based Batteries

Conducting polymers for battery applications have been subject to numerous investigations during the last two decades. However, the functional charging rates and the cycling stabilities have so far been found to be insufficient for practical applications. These shortcomings can, at least partially, be explained by the fact that thick layers of the conducting polymers have been used to obtain sufficient capacities of the batteries. In the present letter, we introduce a novel nanostructured high-surface area electrode material for energy storage applications composed of cellulose fibers of algal origin individually coated with a 50 nm thin layer of polypyrrole. Our results show the hitherto highest reported charge capacities and charging rates for an all polymer paper-based battery. The composite conductive paper material is shown to have a specific surface area of 80 m2 g-1 and batteries based on this material can be charged with currents as high as 600 mA cm-2 with only 6 % loss in capacity over 100 subsequent charge and discharge cycles. The aqueous-based batteries, which are entirely based on cellulose and polypyrrole and exhibit charge capacities between 25 and 33 mAh g-1 or 38-50 mAh g-1 per weight of the active material, open up new possibilities for the production of environmentally friendly, cost efficient, up-scalable and lightweight energy storage systems. There is currently a great interest in the development of thin, flexible, lightweight, and environmentally friendly batteries and supercapacitors.1 In this process, the preparation of novel redox polymer and electronically conducting polymer-base

Benchmark calculation for spills of cryogenic He into the ITER VV used as basis for an experimental campaign by means of EVITA facility

Code validation activities have been promoted inside the EFDA (European Fusion Development Agreement) to test the capability of codes in simulating accident phenomena in fusion facilities and, specifically, in the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) plant. This work concerns a benchmark between three different computer codes (CONSEN, MAGS and MELCOR) and one analytical model (ITER model) in simulating cryogenic helium leaking into a vacuum vessel (VV) which contains hot structures. The scope is the evaluation of the transient pressure inside the VV. The results will be used to design a vent duct (equivalent diameter, length and roughness) which allows helium pressure relief towards controlled volumes. A maximum pressure of 2.0e5 Pa inside the vacuum vessel is allowed during the accident transient. The reference geometry is a simplified scheme preserving the main features of the full scale ITER design. Based on the results of the simulations, a matrix of experiments will be proposed to validate the calculated results and to design the vent duct for the ITER VV. The experiments are planned to be performed in the EVITA facility, located in CEA Cadarache (France)

Simulation of cryogenic He spills as basis for planning of experimental campaign in the EVITA facility

Code validation activities have been promoted inside the European fusion development agreement (EFDA) to test the capability of codes in simulating accident phenomena in fusion facilities and, specifically, in the International thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER). This work includes a comparison between three different computer codes (CONSEN, MAGS and MELCOR) and one analytical model (ITER Model) in simulating cryogenic helium releases into the vacuum vessel (VV) which contains hot structures. The scope was the evaluation of the transient pressure inside the VV. The results will be used to design a vent duct (equivalent diameter, length and roughness) to allow pressure relief for the protection of the VV, which has a maximum design pressure of 200 kPa. The model geometry is a simplified scheme preserving the main features of the ITER design. Based on the results of the simulations, a matrix of experiments was developed to validate the calculated results and to design the vent duct for the ITER VV. The experiments are planned to be performed in the EVITA test facility, located in the CEA Cadarache research centre (France)

Browsing the Real World using Organic Electronics, Si-Chips, and a Human Touch.

Organic electronics have been developed according to an orthodox doctrine advocating "all-printed, "all-organic and "ultra-low-cost primarily targeting various e-paper applications. In order to harvest from the great opportunities afforded with organic electronics potentially operating as communication and sensor outposts within existing and future complex communication infrastructures, high-quality computing and communication protocols must be integrated with the organic electronics. Here, we debate and scrutinize the twinning of the signal-processing capability of traditional integrated silicon chips with organic electronics and sensors, and to use our body as a natural local network with our bare hand as the browser of the physical world. The resulting platform provides a body network, i.e., a personalized web, composed of e-label sensors, bioelectronics, and mobile devices that together make it possible to monitor and record both our ambience and health-status parameters, supported by the ubiquitous mobile network and the resources of the "cloud".Funding agencies:  Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Onnesjo Foundation; VINNOVA; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research</p