Photo-capacitor

Why in News?

Recently, Indian scientists have developed a photo-capacitor that simultaneously captures and stores solar energy.

• Solar energy systems – Enable direct conversion of sunlight into stored electrical energy, viz., electricity or heat.
• Components –
  • Solar panels for energy capture.
  • Batteries/supercapacitors for energy storage.
  • Power-management electronics to regulate voltage and current mismatches.
• Supercapacitor – A supercapacitor is a high-capacity energy storage device that bridges the gap between conventional capacitors and rechargeable batteries.
• Photo-capacitor – It is an innovative sunlight-powered supercapacitor using a single device that integrates solar energy harvesting and energy storage.
  • Type – Photo-rechargeable supercapacitor.
• Developed by – Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru.
• Nodal Authority – Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology.
• Working Principle – The device simultaneously absorbs sunlight and stores the generated electrical charge.
• This is done using NiCo₂O₄ nanowire electrodes grown on nickel foam.
• Key Features – Integrated Architecture – Combines sunlight harvesting and charge storage in a single device, eliminating the need for separate solar panels and storage units.
• Electrode Material – Binder-free nickel-cobalt oxide (NiCo₂O₄) nanowires uniformly grown on nickel foam using an in-situ hydrothermal process.
• Nanostructure Design – Highly porous, conductive three-dimensional nanowire network with nanometre-scale diameter and micrometre-scale length.
• Photo-Enhanced Performance – Capacitance increased by 54% under illumination.
• Durability & Stability – Retained 85% capacity after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles.
• And, asymmetric device retained 88% capacitance after 1,000 photo-charging cycles.
• Voltage Output – Delivered a stable output voltage of 1.2 V in an asymmetric photo-supercapacitor configuration.
• Operational Flexibility – Operated efficiently under varying light conditions, from low indoor illumination to intense sunlight,
• Applications – Portable electronics, wearable devices, off-grid technologies.
• As self-charging power systems for remote regions without access to electrical grids.
• Benefits – Reduced system complexity and cost.
• Minimized energy loss with long-term stability.
• Self-charging capability and reduced dependence on conventional batteries.
• Significance – Represents a paradigm shift in renewable energy storage by enabling self-sustaining, clean energy systems.
• It supports India’s clean energy ambitions through innovative, photo-responsive energy storage technologies.

Reference

PIB | Photo-capacitor