8
Applications of Electrochemical
Supercapacitors
8.1 Introduction
The quest for alternative energy sources is one of the most important and
exciting challenges facing science and technology in the twenty-first century. Environmentally friendly, efficient, and sustainable energy generation and usage have attracted large efforts around the world. For example,
portable, stationary, and transportation applications are all areas that
demand high levels of energy—areas in which electrochemical energy
storage and conversion devices such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrochemical supercapacitors (ESs) are the necessary sources for delivering
alternative energy.
Among the electrochemical energy storage and conversion advances, ESs
are considered the most feasible complementary devices. They represent a
new breed of technology among the other energy storage devices. They store
greater amounts of energy than conventional capacitors and deliver more
power than batteries. For example, Figure 2.20 (Chapter 2) is a Ragone plot
showing various energy and power capabilities [1].
The Ragone plot also shows that although ES devices have lower energy
densities than batteries and fuel cells, their power densities are 10 times
greater than those of batteries and fuel cells. Several other advantages of the
ES are worthy of mention:
1. Very short charge and discharge times, from fractions of a second to
several minutes
2. Life cycles exceeding 100,000 charge–discharge cycles
3. Possible capacitance values ranging from 0.043 to 2700 F
4. Operating temperature ranging from –20°C to 55°C under various
application conditions
317
Applications of Electrochemical
Supercapacitors
8.1 Introduction
The quest for alternative energy sources is one of the most important and
exciting challenges facing science and technology in the twenty-first century. Environmentally friendly, efficient, and sustainable energy generation and usage have attracted large efforts around the world. For example,
portable, stationary, and transportation applications are all areas that
demand high levels of energy—areas in which electrochemical energy
storage and conversion devices such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrochemical supercapacitors (ESs) are the necessary sources for delivering
alternative energy.
Among the electrochemical energy storage and conversion advances, ESs
are considered the most feasible complementary devices. They represent a
new breed of technology among the other energy storage devices. They store
greater amounts of energy than conventional capacitors and deliver more
power than batteries. For example, Figure 2.20 (Chapter 2) is a Ragone plot
showing various energy and power capabilities [1].
The Ragone plot also shows that although ES devices have lower energy
densities than batteries and fuel cells, their power densities are 10 times
greater than those of batteries and fuel cells. Several other advantages of the
ES are worthy of mention:
1. Very short charge and discharge times, from fractions of a second to
several minutes
2. Life cycles exceeding 100,000 charge–discharge cycles
3. Possible capacitance values ranging from 0.043 to 2700 F
4. Operating temperature ranging from –20°C to 55°C under various
application conditions
317