Graphene Supercaps - Revolutio­nary Energy Storage

Graphene revo­lu­tion in the energy sto­rage market

Graphene-enhanced ultraca­pacitor energy storage systems are being labelled a revo­lution in the industry. The physical and chemical pro­perties of this alter­native to acti­vated carbon in super­capa­citors clearly speak in favour of this.

In principle, the use of graphene layers just one molecule / atom thick instead of the usual acti­vated carbon is about further opti­mising the main pro­perties of ultra­capa­citors: Storing and releasing large amounts of energy in a short space of time.

Reports from materials research on improved graphene deri­vatives have raised many hopes in recent years. The extra­ordi­narily high elec­tronic mo­bility and the extre­mely high surface area in rela­tion to volume are not the only advan­tages of graphene. It also has higher ther­mal conduc­tivity than acti­vated carbon, greater chemi­cal stability and parti­cular mecha­nical strength. All aspects that are decisive factors in the pro­duction of high-perfor­mance ultra­caps in thinner, lighter designs with a long service life.

The biggest limitation of this ma­terial inno­vation is its pro­duction. Pro­duction costs are signi­ficantly higher com­pared to conven­tional ultra­caps that use acti­vated carbon. However, pro­cesses such as chemical vapour depo­sition (CVD) and the develop­ment of hybrid materials (graphene with nano-materials) are ensuring a positive develop­ment in economic efficiency. It is clear that graphene ultra­capa­citors and their em­bedding in energy storage systems are a very useful ad­dition or alter­native to the current ultracap tech­nology standard. Due to the current cost situation, this is pri­marily where parti­cularly high char­ging and dis­charging capa­cities or high energy densities are required.

CAPCOMP GmbH is in close contact with manu­facturers of such energy storage solutions and will include them in its product portfolio in the future.

Further information