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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Synthetic atoms are nano capacitors which mimic the geometry of atoms and simple molecules, but are a factor 10 factor larger. Synthetic atoms are a potentially important new technology for storing energy. In synthetic atoms energy is stored by moving electrons, instead of ions. Since electrons have much less mass, the power density of synthetic atoms is much higher than in Li-ion batteries. In chemical batteries the energy density is limited by the energy density of the molecular bonds, which is typically around 1GJ/m^3. The theoretical limit for energy density in synthetic atoms is more than 100 times larger if the electrode material has a particularly high tensile strength, such as graphene, carbon nano tubes, or boron-nitrate nano-wires. Arrays of synthetic atoms can be easily recharged, unless they create a propagating high-pressure wave front or an electromagnetic pulse during discharge and disintegrate. The combustion front in explosives propagates roughly with the speed of sound. Arrays synthetic atoms have a similar energy density, but the energy-release front (electro-magnetic pulse) propagates with the speed of light.