Liverpool team’s novel material promises boost to IoT storage capabilities

Outlined in Batteries & Supercaps, the method employs the sustainable carbon nanomaterial, Gii, in combination with iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH).

The two are paired by means of electrochemical deposition to create an electrode material that can be employed for micro-supercapacitors, the energy-storage devices that can be used to power IoT technologies.

The novel electrode can operate at a range of 2V, almost double the typical 1.2V limit. Being water-based, it presents a potential sustainable alternative to traditional solvent-based electrodes. 

Dr Filipe Braga of Liverpool’s department of chemistry stated: “Via use of electrodeposition, the Gii-based electrode could enable IoT devices to use smaller, more powerful, and more sustainable energy storage systems, accelerating their adoption in everyday life.”

Braga’s colleague, professor Laurence J Hardwick, added that the research demonstrated Gii’s “huge potential” to transform energy storage for small devices.

“By depositing metal oxides onto Gii’s highly conductive and open-structured carbon, we’ve created a scalable solution that meets the challenges of integrating energy storage into compact devices,” he explained.

“Supercapacitors have a key role to play in driving the next stage of IoT technologies, and we are excited to continue exploring Gii’s capabilities in this field."

A sustainable carbon nanomaterial, Gii is not mined or created through a toxic, high-energy process, and can be manufactured sustainably on an industrial scale.

It is produced by the Stirling based company iGii, previously known as Graphene when set up in 2016. Its co-founder and chief scientific officer is surface science and nanotechnology expert Dr Marco Caffio.

Commenting on the latest development by the University of Liverpool team, Caffio said: “We are only beginning to uncover the full potential of Gii. Alongside its transformative benefits for the biosensor market, this research highlights Gii’s remarkable capabilities in energy storage.

“Whether supporting early-stage research or enabling market-ready products, Gii offers an unparalleled combination of cost-efficiency, sustainability, scalability, and supply security, making it the perfect material for driving innovation across multiple industries.”

Pic: Image of Gii taken with a scanning electron microscope