Rechargeable Power Source For Mobile Devices Which Includes An Ultracapacitor

Abstract

Provided herein is a rechargeable power source that can be quickly charged and use for charging mobile and cordless devices. The power source includes an ultracapacitor which comprises a composite structure including carbon nanotubes attached to an oxide layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rechargeable power source which is quickly charged and is used for charging mobile devices comprising an ultracapacitor used as an energy storage unit in the power source which has a composite structure comprising:
 a metal foil with thickness less than 500 um;   a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal foil surface; and   carbon nanotubes disposed on the metal oxide layer;   wherein the metal oxide layer thickness is less than 100 nm;   and wherein the metal oxide layer is comprised of more than one metal atom.   
     
     
         2 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the ultracapacitor is used in combination with a battery as energy storage unit. 
     
     
         3 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is fully charged in less than 10 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is fully charged in less than 5 minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is fully charged in less than 1 minute. 
     
     
         6 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the total capacity of the power source is at least 5 mAh or 0.025 Wh. 
     
     
         7 . The power source of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile device is a Universal Serial Device and is charged by a Universal Serial Bus. 
     
     
         8 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the input for the power source is an AC plug. 
     
     
         9 . The power source of  claim 8 , wherein the AC plug is connected to a wall mounted electricity outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is charged at greater than 20W. 
     
     
         11 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is charged at greater than 50W. 
     
     
         12 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is portable. 
     
     
         13 . The power source of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is used to charge mobile phones. 
     
     
         14 . The power source of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is used to charge laptop computers. 
     
     
         15 . The power source of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is used to power a light source. 
     
     
         16 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is used to charge cordless power tools. 
     
     
         17 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the ultracapacitor energy storage unit comprises multiple pairs of stacked electrodes. 
     
     
         18 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes of the ultracapacitor comprise a metal oxide coating comprised of oxides of titanium, vanadium, iron, nickel, manganese, ruthenium, molybdenum, cobalt, chromium, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes of the ultracapacitor are unzipped to form open graphine structures or graphine nanoribbons. 
     
     
         20 . The power source of  claim 1 , wherein the ultracapacitor comprises electrolytes, aqueous electrolytes, ionic liquids and electrolytes soluble in organic solvents.