Old Battery Tech Look Out, Here Comes a Light Energy Battery

http://www.earthtimes.org/energy/light-energy-stored-battery/2711/#d3DHEbDc0UAHebKE.99

WARNING: Misleading Title

If this new battery were storing 'light energy,' it would be storing it as light. Photons. No, that's not what this battery does. What they're doing is using light to trigger photochemical reactions; the energy is stored in the form of chemical bonds.

If this battery were storing it as 'light' energy, then I could just as legitimately claim (or not) that a conventional battery charged by a conventional solar panel constitutes storing that energy as 'light energy' because that energy was originally in the form of light.

This is a photochemical process. Potential energy in the form chemical bonds, not light.

For a moment there I was hoping someone had invented Real Slow Glass (someone did, actually, but Bose- Einstein condensates don't qualify as glass and it doesn't come in conveient slabs like the stuff in that sci-fi tale. Google 'slow glass' for an interesting read).

Oh. Never mind.

That'll learn ya. Gosh, Lyn, you almost pulled a Fredski.

But, but, look at the pretty picture here:

Implications of New Solar Battery-Charging Off Air and Sunlight

Looks like my windshield, and so are you suggesting that I collect photons by running into them with my car? It goes pretty fast.

Wonder if Jorrie would have anything to say about this? Like, maybe if I blue-shifted them by going fast enough, their higher energies will make my car go even faster, blue-shifting even the red ones into violet, etc., etc., powering it forever. An endless supply of energy!

We haven't had a good Over-Unity/Perpetual-Motion thread for awhile now. Just doing my part.

Pop-up Blocked!

I was more interested in the dye they used. I checked it out, its all basic research, no actual product, do no data on charge/recharge cycles, or amount of storage capacity

Well, they've gotta start somewhere.

apparently, the "dye" is nothing more than the triiodide ion I₃^- produced at the photoelectrode (not sure but I think it is cathode during charging cycle) during re-charging which then reacts with lithium peroxide. Apparently this reduces the overpotential, and allows direct production of free lithium metal atoms that accumulate in the carbon matrix. It seems iron oxide semiconductor is also necessary. I agree that they could have said alot more of the practical stuff about this photo-battery. Apparently, more is to be learned than what is known at this point. "Just how big of an old battery are you anyway?" Call them up and an ask them. If they can make one of these that has an output of 60 amps, I want one.

This is old (tinfoil) hat. You just take an inside-out mirror ball, and put a light bulb in it. To charge up this thing, you turn on the light bulb. After a few minutes, you turn the bulb off. But the light continues to careen around, until you open the little window to extract it.

Mirrorball dictu!

Translated from Latin to Pig Latin that would be "onay itshay".

Klaatu barada dictu!

Mirror balls are just so passé. These days mini black holes are all the rage and so very convenient, too (I keep mine on a keychain). The operating principle is simplicity itself:

Light grazes the black hole's Event Horizon and goes into orbit around the BH. If you do nothing it orbits forever. To extract the light, you simply intersect the EH with a small mirror - inspection mirrors are great for this - holding it at an oblique angle thereby redirecting the light to wherever you need it. The light's a bit red from climbing out of the gravity well, but, if you like warmer colors you're all set. Especially if you like IR and microwaves.

Just keep lots of inspection mirrors on hand because they tend to fall in.