How plastic could redefine power storage

Pic/UCLA

A UCLA research team has created a ground-breaking plastic material that could transform energy storage. The team developed a fur-like, textured version of a plastic called PEDOT, which can conduct electricity. Unlike traditional versions of the material, this new design has a vastly increased surface area, allowing it to store nearly 10 times more energy and last through 1, 00,000 charging cycles. Using a novel process, the researchers grew tiny, hair-like fibres of the material on a graphene sheet, creating a high-performance energy storage device called a supercapacitor. Unlike batteries, which rely on slower chemical reactions, supercapacitors store and release energy quickly, ideal for renewable energy systems an EVs.