Increasing the Efficiency of Voltaic Cell Batteries Using Graphene Nanoplatelets

Overview

Batteries are a critical component of our everyday lives and provide compact energy anywhere. However, they have many key limitations that restrict their full potential (life, eco-friendliness, inventiveness). Graphene, a 2D hexagonal allotrope of carbon poses extreme potential in the battery industry because of its incredible conductivity properties. Researchers also recently found that running salt water on a sheet of graphene could generate electricity. Thus, the purpose of this project was to see if graphene could be used in a voltaic cell (battery) along with a constant motion and other materials to generate more electricity and sustain the electricity better than other traditional voltaic cells. The variable that was being tested was the composition of the voltaic cell, and what was added to either side. It was hypothesized that the voltaic cell with both graphene and salt along with motion could sustain the most energy in amps and volts the longest. To test this, 4 voltaic cells were set up. Eight beakers were filled with either 250 mL of zinc sulfate or 250 mL of copper sulfate, and different solutions containing graphene nanoplatelets and salt. A glass tube with salt used for the salt bridge, and the voltage and amps were recorded every five minutes for a total of an hour with a digital multi-meter. Afterward, the beakers were reset and the electrical output was recorded again, but this time while slowly shaking the beakers to simulate moving water. This process was repeated for a total of 5 trials. After the data was collected, the averages of all 5 trials were calculated. On average, the cells started at around 1.06 volts and around 2.08 and 2.09 amps. However, the cell with just graphene ended the test at 0.69 volts and 1.84 amps, significantly higher all the other samples. With the addition of graphene, the batteries were able to sustain a higher electrical voltage and current at the end of the time frame. The results show that if graphene is utilized in batteries, there will be much-needed improvements to the life of the cell. The most prominent application for this research is in renewable energy. Renewable energy has inconsistent production, causing energy to be wasted. With better methods of energy storage, these problems can be solved so that when there is extra unused electricity, it can be saved for use at other times. With graphene, lithium-ion batteries can maintain a strong electrical output for a longer period of time, without requiring more storage space.

Competition history

• AJAS 2019 Category not listed

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