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michka:research:supercapacitors [2014-07-01 14:29] – michkamichka:research:supercapacitors [2014-07-02 12:14] (current) – michka
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 ====Home-Made Supercapacitors from Dead PC Batteries==== ====Home-Made Supercapacitors from Dead PC Batteries====
 +===By Paul Granjon & MIchka Mélo===
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:dsc03926.jpg?400 |}}
  
 This page reports the wonderful citizen science R&D workshop we had at FoAM with my dear friend [[http://www.zprod.org|Paul Granjon]], a world-reknown artist specialized in human-machine co-evolution and [[http://vimeo.com/30187028|participatory upcycling workshops]]. This page reports the wonderful citizen science R&D workshop we had at FoAM with my dear friend [[http://www.zprod.org|Paul Granjon]], a world-reknown artist specialized in human-machine co-evolution and [[http://vimeo.com/30187028|participatory upcycling workshops]].
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 ====Best design==== ====Best design====
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:img_5631.jpg?300 |}}
  
 Our best design was very simple. It was a sandwich design, which means that it was just a stack of dry material layers we taped all together. It contained three layers: Our best design was very simple. It was a sandwich design, which means that it was just a stack of dry material layers we taped all together. It contained three layers:
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 ===Step 1 - Find at least one dead computer battery=== ===Step 1 - Find at least one dead computer battery===
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:img_5584.jpg?300 |}}
  
 We ended up opening three of them: We ended up opening three of them:
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    * One Toshiba battery    * One Toshiba battery
    * Another Toshiba battery, made of Panasonic round batteries    * Another Toshiba battery, made of Panasonic round batteries
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:dsc03893.jpg?300 |}}
  
 To open them, use a hacksaw and/or a cutter, and make sure that you are not damaging the internal material. All three designs where made of more or less round rolls of: To open them, use a hacksaw and/or a cutter, and make sure that you are not damaging the internal material. All three designs where made of more or less round rolls of:
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    * A copper layer    * A copper layer
    * Intercalated layers of graphene between each couple of these three.    * Intercalated layers of graphene between each couple of these three.
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:dsc03896.jpg?300 |}}
  
 The Toshiba-non-Panasonic battery ended up being the easiest to manipulate. Graphene was easy to clean up from copper & insulating layers, whereas the Apple battery graphene was a nightmare to remove. Robert Murray Smith advises to let it dry for as long as possible before trying to remove it. Ease of manipulation varies with battery design & the kind of damage it overcame, which explains why you may want to start with several dead batteries to go through the process with the easiest to manipulate. The Toshiba-non-Panasonic battery ended up being the easiest to manipulate. Graphene was easy to clean up from copper & insulating layers, whereas the Apple battery graphene was a nightmare to remove. Robert Murray Smith advises to let it dry for as long as possible before trying to remove it. Ease of manipulation varies with battery design & the kind of damage it overcame, which explains why you may want to start with several dead batteries to go through the process with the easiest to manipulate.
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 ===Step 2 - Clean up the graphene from the copper layers & some insulating layers=== ===Step 2 - Clean up the graphene from the copper layers & some insulating layers===
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:img_5545.jpg?300 |}}
  
 Scrap with your nails or whatever soft tools which will not make holes in the plastic or copper layer. Scrap with your nails or whatever soft tools which will not make holes in the plastic or copper layer.
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 ====Other dry designs==== ====Other dry designs====
  
-Except for our sandwich designs, we also had some sushi designs - which are nothing else than wrapped sandwiches. We also made some waffle designs, which are square sushis - not cylindrical.+{{ :michka:research:dsc03898.jpg?300 |}} 
 + 
 +Except for our sandwich designs, we also had some sushi designs - which are nothing else than wrapped sandwiches. 
 + 
 +{{ :michka:research:img_5637.jpg?300 |}} 
 + 
 +We also made some waffle designs, which are square sushis - not cylindrical. 
 + 
 +{{ :michka:research:img_5677.jpg?300 |}}
  
 We tried alsmost every possible combination out of the available materials from our dead batteries. Here are a few examples: We tried alsmost every possible combination out of the available materials from our dead batteries. Here are a few examples:
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 Our wet designs were no success. Our wet designs were no success.
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:dsc03904.jpg?300 |}}
  
 A sushi dipped in sulfuric acid was severly attacked. Current kept on flowing, it was bubbling slightly, the solution started to become dark. It did hold voltage and quite a good charge, but after opening it up, we saw huge corrosion spots on the copper layer. A sushi dipped in sulfuric acid was severly attacked. Current kept on flowing, it was bubbling slightly, the solution started to become dark. It did hold voltage and quite a good charge, but after opening it up, we saw huge corrosion spots on the copper layer.
- 
-Sushi dipped in salted water and demineralized water showed a strange charging behavior: current was slightly increasing, before being stable around 100 mA. They ended up not charging, or having a low and evanescent charge. 
  
 Our sandwich with salted-water-wet paper had a similar charging behavior, and copper also ended up corroded. Our sandwich with salted-water-wet paper had a similar charging behavior, and copper also ended up corroded.
 +
 +{{ :michka:research:img_5632.jpg?300 |}}
  
 Our sandwich with demineraliued-water-wet paper had a similar charging behavior, and a low and evanescent charge. Our sandwich with demineraliued-water-wet paper had a similar charging behavior, and a low and evanescent charge.
 +
 +====Things not to do====
 +
 +**Do not try to absorb sulfuric acid with paper ! It produces a frightening hot bubbly black liquid !**
 +
 +====Audio Lab Book====
 +
 +A 22 minutes slideshow made of 60 photos & audio commentary containing more information is under export. I will post it on Youtube and here ASAP.
  
 ====Conclusion & Future Research==== ====Conclusion & Future Research====

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