At present, supercapacitors - battery-like electronic components capable of delivering energy very quickly - are a key area of focus for power management research.
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin claim to have discovered a process by which sheets of material one atom thick can be created using common chemicals and ultrasound.
The thermoelectric properties of these nanosheets make them suitable for use in supercapacitors, as well as for creating electricity by recovering wasted heat.
Work on the study was conducted collaboratively by the college, the University of Oxford and the Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices.
Reclaiming waste heat as energy has been a feature of numerous headlines over the past week.
On Tuesday, February 1st, scientists from the Riso DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy in Denmark revealed they are working on conversion units suitable for home installation, while the Trinity College Dublin researchers say their discovery could have applications in power stations.
Posted by Michael Lowe
