Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 22

TECHNOLOGY LEADERS Power Management
Supercapacitors Go Hybrid for Increased
Performance and Efficiency
S
upercapacitors are devices that
store a dense electrical charge in
an electrical field that provides
electronics or a power grid with a
quick jolt of power on demand. They have
a capacitance value far higher than typical
capacitors but at the cost of lower voltage
limits. Unlike typical capacitors, supercapacitors
don't use conventional solid
dielectric (insulator) - they utilize electrostatic
double-layer capacitance (typically
made of carbon) and electromechanical
pseudo-capacitance (metal oxide or
conducting polymer). Both contribute to
the capacitor's total capacitance and are
designed for many rapid charge/discharge
cycles over long-term energy storage.
Hybrid supercapacitors boost that
capacitance, energy density, and operating
voltage (3.8 V maximum) up to 10X
over symmetric supercapacitors.
Capacitor Types
It's important to note at this point that
there are three types of capacitors, with
the most basic being the electrostatic
capacitor outfitted with a dry separator.
This type of capacitor features very low
capacitance and is mainly used to tune
radio frequencies and filtering, and
ranges from a few pico-farads (pf) to low
microfarad (μF) in size.
The second capacitor offers electrolytic
qualities and provides a higher capacitance
than the electrostatic capacitor
and is rated in microfarads, which is significantly
larger than a pico-farad. These
capacitors deploy a moist separator and
are used for filtering, buffering, and signal
coupling. As with batteries, the electrostatic
capacity has a positive and negative
that must be observed.
The third type, a supercapacitor, is
rated in farads, which is thousands of
times higher than the electrolytic capacitor.
This type is widely utilized for energy
storage undergoing frequent charge/
discharge cycles at high current with
short durations.
Electrical Double-Layer Capacitors
(EDLCs) are the most common capacitors
in use today. While they offer high
22
Cov
Hybrid capacitors take advantage of electrodes with different characteristics, with one exhibiting electrostatic
capacitance and the other offering electrochemical capacitance, which provides increased operating voltages
and energy density. (Image credit: Yuden)
High
Multilayer Ceramic
Capacitors
Power
density
Electrolytic
Capacitors
Electric Double-Layer
Capacitors
Cylinder-type
Lithium Ion
Capacitors
Power density
Energy density
Energy volume that can be instantaneously removed
Energy volume that can be stored per unit volume (or weight)
High
Energy density
Hybrid capacitors offer greater energy density than EDLCs and bridge a gap between supercapacitors and Li-ion
battery cells using a medium such as activated carbon immersed in a liquid electrolyte. (Image Credit: Taiyo Yuden)
capacitance, stellar power density, and
impressive efficiency, they have some
drawbacks; most notably, " self-discharge, "
meaning the stored energy will
bleed if it hasn't discharged in a short
period, which becomes exacerbated at
higher temperatures. That problem is
mitigated by coupling the supercapacitor
with a lithium-ion battery, providing in -
creased density with minimal self-discharge.
While including a battery with
the capacitor is a great stopgap solution,
it too comes with its problems including
www.techbriefs.com
ToC
increased wear during the charge/discharge
cycles and thermal runaway,
which can be catastrophic.
Hybrid or Li-ion capacitors are de -
signed to offer the best features of
EDLCs and Li-ion batteries in a single
package, essentially merging both technologies
for increased performance and
safety. Whereas EDLCs store energy using
an electrostatic charge and Li-ion batteries
use an electrochemical method, hybrid
capacitors use one electrostatic electrode
and one electrochemical. The result is an
Tech Briefs, June 2021
http://www.techbriefs.com http://www.abpi.net/ntbpdfclicks/l.php?202106TBNAV

Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021

Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Sponsor
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Band1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Band2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 3
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 4
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 5
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 6
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 7
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 8
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 9
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 10
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 11
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 12
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 13
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 14
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 15
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 16
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 17
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 18
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 19
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 20
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 21
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 22
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 23
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 24
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 25
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 26
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 27
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 28
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 29
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 30
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 31
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 32
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 33
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 34
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 35
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 36
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 37
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 38
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 39
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 40
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 41
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 42
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 43
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 44
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 45
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 46
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 47
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 48
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 49
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 50
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 51
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 52
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 53
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 54
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 55
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 56
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 57
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 58
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 59
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 60
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 61
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 62
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 63
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - 64
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-3
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-4
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-5
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-6
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-7
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-8
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-9
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-10
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-11
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-12
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-13
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-14
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-15
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-16
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-17
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-18
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-19
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-20
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-21
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-22
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-23
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-24
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - MD-Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-1
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-2
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-3
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-4
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-5
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-6
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-7
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-8
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-9
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-10
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-11
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-12
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-13
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-14
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-15
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-16
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-17
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-18
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-19
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-20
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-21
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-22
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-23
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-24
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-25
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-26
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-27
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-28
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-29
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-30
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-31
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-32
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-33
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-34
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-35
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-36
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-37
Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2021 - ST-Cov4
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/Testing/22TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB05-P
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB05-D
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21BT03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB02
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com