Supercapacitors: Properties and applications

Abstract

Energy accumulation and storage is one of the most important topics in our times. This paper presents the topic of supercapacitors (SC) as energy storage devices. Supercapacitors represent the alternative to common electrochemical batteries, mainly to widely spread lithium-ion batteries. By physical mechanism and operation principle, supercapacitors are closer to batteries than to capacitors. Their properties are somewhere between batteries and capacitors. They are able to quickly accommodate large amounts of energy (smaller than in the case of batteries-lower energy density from weight and volume point of view) and their charging response is slower than in the case of ceramic capacitors. The most common type of supercapacitors is electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC). Other types of supercapacitors are lithium-ion hybrid supercapacitors and pseudo-supercapacitors. The EDLC type is using a dielectric layer on the electrode-electrolyte interphase to storage of the energy. It uses an electrostatic mechanism of energy storage. The other two types of supercapacitors operate with electrochemical redox reactions and the energy is stored in chemical bonds of chemical materials. This paper provides a brief introduction to the supercapacitor field of knowledge.

Research Frontiers in Energy‐Related Materials and Applications for 2020–2030

“…[82][83][84] The global market of SCs grew from $470 million in 2010 to $1.2 billion in 2015, and it is anticipated to reach $5 billion in 2025. [82] Since the charge-storing capacity of SCs is related to their electrochemically active surface area, nanostructured carbon materials and their derivatives with optimized porosity are commonly used in the field of SCs. As shown in Table 2, current SCs are classified as i) double layer SCs (using the charge-storing ability of the electrical double layer (EDL) formed on the electrode/ electrolyte interface), ii) pseudo-SCs (employing so-called pseudocapacitive surface or near-surface charge transfer reactions), and iii) hybrid SCs combining electrodes of first two types, which are capable to provide high energy density, close to that of conventional Li-ion batteries.…”

Analysis of Charge Storage Behavior in Redox‐electrolyte Based Battery‐like‐systems: A Case Study on Zr‐doped Ceria

“…For instance, supercapacitors are expected to play an important role in delivering the power requirements in a community setting, for electric vehicle mobility, etc. However, low specific energy (< 100 Wh kg −1 ) and high cost per unit of energy (∼10000 USD per kWh) have severely limited the large scale usage of current supercapacitors . For overcoming the technology bottlenecks, research is on for developing novel supercapacitor electrode materials.…”

“…However, low specific energy (< 100 Wh kg À 1 ) and high cost per unit of energy (∼ 10000 USD per kWh) have severely limited the large scale usage of current supercapacitors. [2] For overcoming the technology bottlenecks, research is on for developing novel supercapacitor electrode materials. Similarly, electrolytes, an important component of supercapacitors, have attracted significant attention in recent times as well.…”

Covalent Organic Frameworks: A New Class of Porous Organic Frameworks for Supercapacitor Electrodes

“…Supercapacitors have attracted great attention as a significant candidate for electrical energy storage devices due to their excellent properties involving high power density, high coulombic efficiency and long cycling life . According to different mechanisms for storing charges, supercapacitors can be classified into electrical double‐layer supercapacitors (EDLS) and Faradaic supercapacitors (FS) or pseudocapacitors . The performance of supercapacitors depends on the used electrode materials .…”

“…[4] According to different mechanisms for storing charges, supercapacitors can be classified into electrical double-layer supercapacitors (EDLS) and Faradaic supercapacitors (FS) or pseudocapacitors. [5,6] The performance of supercapacitors depends on the used electrode materials. [7] At present, three main kinds of electrode materials, including metal oxides and hydroxides, [8][9][10] porous carbon materials [11][12][13] and conducting polymers, [14][15][16] have been applied in supercapacitors successfully.…”