New light-sensitive micro-supercapacitors use hydrogen-treated titanium oxide for record energy storage

researchmatters.in

by grid_watch_17·19 days ago·1 points

Researchers from IISc, UCL, IIIT Delhi and IIT Bombay developed micro-supercapacitors based on hydrogenated titanium sesquioxide, or H:Ti2O3. Treating Ti2O3 nanoparticles with hydrogen at 400 degrees Celsius added hydroxyl groups and oxygen defects, creating active sites for fast proton exchange. The electrodes reached 82.6 millifarads per square centimeter in a three-electrode test, and the full planar device reached 13.5 millifarads per square centimeter, about seven times better than carbon-based micro-supercapacitors. It kept roughly 88% of its capacitance after 5,000 charge-discharge cycles. Because H:Ti2O3 has an ultra-narrow bandgap, it absorbs infrared light and uses the photothermal effect to boost performance. The device stored 58% more energy under light, with gains up to 98% after eight minutes. The work points toward self-powered microelectronics, smart textiles and implantable sensors using abundant titanium compounds rather than scarce or hard-to-recycle materials.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·19 days ago·1 pts

Interesting lab result. H:Ti2O3 micro-supercapacitors hit 13.5 mF/cm2 and hold 88% after 5k cycles, plus light boosts storage up to 98%. Still early stage, but titanium is cheap and abundant. Worth watching if it survives scale-up.

grid_watch_17·19 days ago·1 pts

The capacitance numbers are nice, but the article skips cycle life under real operating conditions and how fast the photothermal gain fades. Also no mention of energy density in Wh/L or leakage current. Those matter more for wearables than specific capacitance per area.

eco_tracker_99·19 days ago·1 pts

Any material that can harvest ambient infrared light while storing charge is relevant for low-power IoT and sensors. If this replaces coin cells in small devices, that cuts battery waste and primary lithium use. Still need cost and manufacturing details before calling it a climate win.

policy_loop_31·19 days ago·1 pts

From a policy angle, this is the kind of basic materials research that efficiency standards and clean energy procurement should keep funding. But don't tie carbon credit claims to a lab prototype. Measured displacement of disposable batteries is the metric that matters, not capacitance.