supercapacitors

 🔋Graphene material paves the way for next-generation supercapacitors

A new carbon material developed by Australian engineers could make the next generation of supercapacitors (ionistors). These could store energy equivalent to lead-acid batteries and release it much faster than current technologies. The discovery could lead to major changes in electric vehicles, electric grids and consumer electronics.

Ionistors, or supercapacitors, store energy electrostatically, unlike batteries that operate through chemical reactions. Although they have a long life, fast charging and discharging, and high reliability, they lag behind in terms of energy density.

Supercapacitors use porous materials as electrodes, and the amount of energy stored depends on their surface area.  A team of experts from Monash University has found a way to significantly increase the surface area by changing the way materials are thermally processed, IE reports.

The secret to this discovery lies in the structure of the material, which is based on graphene oxide (multiscale reduced graphene oxide, M-rGO). It is made from natural graphite. Using rapid thermal annealing, the researchers created curved graphene structures with precise paths for the rapid movement of ions.

The result is a supercapacitor with energy density and power density, a feature rarely seen in a device. The researchers also highlighted the material's compatibility with industrial manufacturing technologies.

 "In ionic liquid electrolytes, the energy density per liter reaches 99.5 Wh/L and the power density reaches 69.2 kW/L. These devices are capable of fast charging and maintain excellent cyclical stability," noted Petar Jovanovic, one of the researchers. These performance indicators are among the highest among carbon-based capacitors.

The researchers have already begun work on commercializing this discovery.

Meanwhile, US researchers have found a method for developing PEDOT nanoscopic polymer fibers suitable for making electronic capacitors (ionistors) with high electrical conductivity.