Indian-origin researcher’s team discovers technology that can charge your phone from 0% to 100% in a minute
Charging electronic devices typically takes at least 30 minutes. However, advancements in science and technology now make it possible to charge a dead laptop or mobile phone in just a minute and an electric car in 10 minutes. This breakthrough technology was discovered by Ankur Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, along with his team of researchers. Their findings have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers have identified how ions—small charged particles—move within a complex structure of microscopic pores. Gupta stated that this discovery could accelerate the development of more efficient storage devices such as supercapacitors.
A supercapacitor is an energy storage device that collects ions in its pores, Gupta explained, noting that this invention is essential for electric vehicles (EVs), electronic devices, and power grids. Supercapacitors charge faster and have longer life spans than traditional batteries.
Regarding power grids, Gupta emphasized the need for efficient storage to handle fluctuating energy demands. Efficient storage minimizes waste during low-demand periods and ensures rapid energy delivery during high-demand times.
“Given the critical role of energy in the planet’s future, I felt inspired to apply my chemical engineering knowledge to advancing energy storage devices,” Gupta said. “It felt like the topic was somewhat underexplored and, as such, the perfect opportunity.”
Gupta highlighted that the main advantage of supercapacitors is their speed. “So how can we make their charging and release of energy faster? By the more efficient movement of ions. That’s the leap of the work. We found the missing link,” he added.
The researchers also noted that their discovery enables the simulation and prediction of ion flow in a complex network of thousands of interconnected pores within minutes. Previously, ion movements were only described in the literature as occurring within a single straight pore.
