336
Electrochemical Supercapacitors for Energy Storage and Delivery
also be discussed. Finally, some perspectives and research and development
directions will be explored.
9.2 Market Challenges
Although several ES devices have already reached the market, numerous issues still limit their attractiveness to global consumers: limited performance capabilities, long term durability issues, and high cost. ESs will
undoubtedly be integral components of future energy systems, but strong
research and development efforts are required to develop novel system components to overcome the challenges and increase the economic feasibility of
this emerging technology.
To ensure the competitive advantages of ES devices over contemporary battery technologies, significant improvements in energy density are required.
In recent years, steady progress has been made towards this objective
through the development of unique active electrode materials with higher
capacitance capabilities and the deployment of organic and alternative electrolytes with increased operational voltages.
Although these developments are extremely promising, closing the
energy density gap between conventional batteries and ESs without sacrificing cyclability has proven a very difficult task. These long term durability issues stem from the electrode and electrolyte components. Specifically,
during charge and discharge cycling, psuedocapacitive materials may
undergo volumetric or compositional changes that affect the integrity of the
electrode structures and cause performance degradation over long periods
of operation [1]. Electrolyte decomposition is also a significant issue that is
more prevalent at higher operating voltages and can occur on the surfaces
of carbon-based electrode materials, causing pore blockages and increased
electrode resistances [2]. Corrosion of aluminum current collectors is also
a significant challenge that may be overcome by surface treatments for
increasing stability.
Decreasing the cost of ES devices is critical for ensuring that they are attractive on a commercial scale. Currently, the cost of ESs exceeds $20 per watt
hour—significantly higher than state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries at only
$2 per watt hour [3]. This represents a very large gap. Despite several advantages of ESs over their battery counterparts, cost reduction is a necessity along
with improving device performance and stability. Developing and applying
uniquely designed electrolytes, electrode materials, and current collectors
with improved performance at reduced cost will undoubtedly increase the
global attractiveness of this emerging technology. The progress and future
outlook of these efforts will be discussed in the following sections.
Electrochemical Supercapacitors for Energy Storage and Delivery
also be discussed. Finally, some perspectives and research and development
directions will be explored.
9.2 Market Challenges
Although several ES devices have already reached the market, numerous issues still limit their attractiveness to global consumers: limited performance capabilities, long term durability issues, and high cost. ESs will
undoubtedly be integral components of future energy systems, but strong
research and development efforts are required to develop novel system components to overcome the challenges and increase the economic feasibility of
this emerging technology.
To ensure the competitive advantages of ES devices over contemporary battery technologies, significant improvements in energy density are required.
In recent years, steady progress has been made towards this objective
through the development of unique active electrode materials with higher
capacitance capabilities and the deployment of organic and alternative electrolytes with increased operational voltages.
Although these developments are extremely promising, closing the
energy density gap between conventional batteries and ESs without sacrificing cyclability has proven a very difficult task. These long term durability issues stem from the electrode and electrolyte components. Specifically,
during charge and discharge cycling, psuedocapacitive materials may
undergo volumetric or compositional changes that affect the integrity of the
electrode structures and cause performance degradation over long periods
of operation [1]. Electrolyte decomposition is also a significant issue that is
more prevalent at higher operating voltages and can occur on the surfaces
of carbon-based electrode materials, causing pore blockages and increased
electrode resistances [2]. Corrosion of aluminum current collectors is also
a significant challenge that may be overcome by surface treatments for
increasing stability.
Decreasing the cost of ES devices is critical for ensuring that they are attractive on a commercial scale. Currently, the cost of ESs exceeds $20 per watt
hour—significantly higher than state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries at only
$2 per watt hour [3]. This represents a very large gap. Despite several advantages of ESs over their battery counterparts, cost reduction is a necessity along
with improving device performance and stability. Developing and applying
uniquely designed electrolytes, electrode materials, and current collectors
with improved performance at reduced cost will undoubtedly increase the
global attractiveness of this emerging technology. The progress and future
outlook of these efforts will be discussed in the following sections.