Apparatus for generating and storing electric energy

• US 9,160,197 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Park, Young-jun, Kim, Jong-min, Wang, Zhong-lin, Bae, Joon-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Rossoshek, Helen
• Application Number:
  US13/537,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/130, 320/134, 320/167
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06716 Fibre compositions per se C03C13/04or doping with active elements lasing materials in general H01S3/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

An apparatus for generating and storing electric energy, the apparatus including a fiber, an electric energy generation unit disposed on the fiber, and an electric energy storage unit disposed on the fiber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating and storing electric energy, the apparatus comprising:

a fiber;

an electric energy generation unit disposed around the fiber; and

an electric energy storage unit which is disposed around the fiber and includes a supercapacitor,

wherein the supercapacitor comprises a first electrode formed on a surface of the fiber, a plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, a second electrode that surrounds the plurality of nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the plurality of nanowires and the second electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric energy generation unit comprises at least one of a piezoelectric generator and a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric generator comprises a first electrode formed on a surface of the fiber, a plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode that surrounds the nanowires.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an end of each of the plurality of nanowires of the piezoelectric generator forms a Schottky contact with the second electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric generator further comprises a third electrode formed on the second electrode, a plurality of nanowires formed on the third electrode, and a fourth electrode that surrounds the nanowires.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the DSSC comprises a first electrode formed on the surface of the fiber, a plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, a photosensitive dye disposed between the plurality of nanowires, a second electrode that surrounds the nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the first electrode and the second electrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a plurality of nanowires are formed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the DSSC further comprises a third electrode formed on the second electrode, a plurality of nanowires formed on the third electrode, a photosensitive dye disposed between the plurality of nanowires, a fourth electrode that surrounds the plurality of nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor further comprises a third electrode formed on the second electrode, a plurality of nanowires formed on the third electrode, a fourth electrode that surrounds the plurality of nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the plurality of nanowires and the fourth electrode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first electrode of the piezoelectric generator, the first electrode of the DSSC, and the first electrode of the supercapacitor are electrically connected to one another so as to form a common electrode.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first electrode of the piezoelectric generator, the first electrode of the DSSC, and the first electrode of the supercapacitor are electrically disconnected from one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first electrode of the piezoelectric generator, the first electrode of the DSSC, and the first electrode of the supercapacitor each comprise a metal material.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second electrode of the piezoelectric generator, the second electrode of the DSSC, and the second electrode of the supercapacitor each comprise one of graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and metal nanowires.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the second electrode of the piezoelectric generator, the second electrode of the DSSC, and the second electrode of the supercapacitor is directly coated over or wound in the form of a film around the plurality of nanowires.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of nanowires comprise a metal oxide or a semiconductor material having piezoelectric characteristics.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of nanowires are radially arranged.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber comprises a flexible material.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the fibers are connected to one another or weaved in the form of fabric.

19. An apparatus for generating and storing electric energy, the apparatus comprising:

a fiber;

an electric energy storage unit which is disposed around the fiber and includes a supercapacitor; and

an electric energy generation unit disposed around the electric energy storage unit,

wherein the supercapacitor comprises a first electrode formed on a surface of the fiber, a plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, a second electrode that surrounds the nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the plurality of nanowires and the second electrode.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the electric energy generation unit comprises at least one of a piezoelectric generator and a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the piezoelectric generator comprises a first electrode formed on the second electrode of the supercapacitor, a plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode that surrounds the plurality of nanowires.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the DSSC comprises a first electrode formed on the second electrode of the supercapacitor, a plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, a photosensitive dye disposed between the plurality of nanowires, a second electrode that surrounds the plurality of nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the first electrode and the second electrode.

23. An apparatus for generating and storing electricity, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible fiber;

an electric energy generation unit; and

a supercapacitor comprising a first electrode formed around the fiber, a first plurality of nanowires formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed around the plurality of nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the plurality of nanowires and the second electrode.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the electric energy generation unit comprises a piezoelectric generator comprising:

a third electrode formed around the fiber, a second plurality of nanowires formed on the third electrode, and a fourth electrode that surrounds the second plurality of nanowires, wherein an end of each of the second plurality of nanowires forms a Schottky contact with the fourth electrode.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode are electrically connected, this forming a common electrode.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the electric energy generation unit comprises a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) comprising:

a third electrode formed around the fiber, a second plurality of nanowires formed on the third electrode, a photosensitive dye disposed between the second plurality of nanowires, a fourth electrode that surrounds the second plurality of nanowires, and an electrolyte that fills a space between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode are electrically connected, this forming a common electrode.