Revolutionary Capacitors: Sang-Hoon Bae’s Advances in Energy Storage

Breaking the Wall of Energy Density Limits

Winner Interview 2024: Engineering & Technology

Sang-Hoon Bae is transforming capacitor technology by significantly enhancing energy density. His team's innovations in creating ultra-thin, high-quality ferroelectric materials and discovering a new phenomenon to reduce energy loss promise more efficient, compact energy storage solutions for applications ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles.

Which wall does your research or project break?

Capacitor-type energy storage systems face a fundamental limitation in energy density due to the intrinsic properties of the materials used. Typically, these materials exhibit a trade-off: they either have high storage capacity with significant energy loss or low energy loss with limited storage capacity. This inherent compromise restricts the efficiency and performance of conventional capacitors. Our team has recently developed groundbreaking approaches that have the potential to revolutionize capacitor technology by significantly enhancing energy density. These innovative methods address the limitations of traditional capacitors through two key advancements.

First, we have succeeded in creating very thin, high-quality ferroelectric materials. These materials exhibit excellent dielectric properties, which are crucial for achieving high energy storage capacity. By optimizing the fabrication process, we ensure that the ferroelectric materials maintain their structural integrity and performance even at reduced thicknesses.

Second, we have discovered a new fundamental phenomenon that drastically reduces energy loss. This phenomenon allows the capacitors to operate with higher efficiency, ensuring that more of the stored energy is available for use. The combination of these high-quality ferroelectric materials and the reduced energy loss mechanism leads to capacitors with significantly higher energy density compared to conventional counterparts.

These advancements represent a major leap forward in energy storage technology. Our new capacitors not only promise to deliver higher energy density but also pave the way for more efficient and compact energy storage solutions. This innovation has the potential to impact various applications, from portable electronics to electric vehicles, where improved energy storage is critical. Our research continues to explore the full potential of these new capacitors, aiming to bring them to market and unlock new possibilities for energy storage technology.

What are the three main goals of your research or project?

1. Development and Optimization of High-Quality Capacitor Materials:

The first goal is to advance the fabrication and optimization of ultra-thin, high-quality ferroelectric materials. This involves refining the production process to ensure these materials maintain their excellent electrical properties even at minimal thicknesses. By doing so, we aim to enhance the energy storage capacity of capacitors significantly. This step includes rigorous testing and characterization to ensure that the materials not only meet but exceed current standards for performance and durability. The optimization process will focus on achieving the ideal balance between material thickness, structural integrity, and electrical efficiency, thereby pushing the boundaries of what is possible in energy storage technology.

2. Exploration and Implementation of the New Energy Loss Reduction Phenomenon:

The second goal is to thoroughly investigate and implement the newly discovered fundamental phenomenon that drastically reduces energy loss in capacitors. This aspect of the project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon and how it can be consistently reproduced in practical applications. By integrating this energy loss reduction technique with our high-quality ferroelectric materials, we aim to develop capacitors that not only store more energy but do so with unprecedented efficiency. This goal involves both theoretical and experimental work to refine the phenomenon and ensure its reliable application in various capacitor designs.

3. Development and Commercialization of High-Energy Density Capacitors:

The third goal is to translate these scientific and technological advancements into commercially viable products. This involves designing, prototyping, and testing capacitors that leverage the optimized ferroelectric materials and energy loss reduction techniques. The aim is to produce capacitors with significantly higher energy density compared to current market offerings. Once the prototypes demonstrate superior performance, the project will focus on scaling up the production process and ensuring that the new capacitors can be manufactured cost-effectively and reliably. This goal also includes collaboration with industry partners and stakeholders to facilitate the adoption of these advanced capacitors in various applications, such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems.

What advice would you give to young scientists or students interested in pursuing a career in research, or to your younger self starting in science?

Chase your curiosity with deep fundamental understanding. Enjoy research with your friends.