Solid-State Ultracapacitors for Electric Vehicles and Consumer Electronics

40431 November 18, 1996 Cape Cod Research, Inc. This project will develop high energy and power density ultracapacitors for electric vehicles, using multiple layers of thin coatings of conducting polymers and their composites. The solid-state devices will contain thin coatings of polymeric gel electrolytes for dimensional stability. A thin insulating clay layer with a good dielectric strength will separate neighboring pairs of electrodes. These capacitors will be light-weight, compact, thin, and flexible and will have energy and power densities that exceed DOE requirements. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: In addition to using these capacitors in electric vehicles, where they would be used hand-in-hand with the battery to handle short power peaks, these devices should have many potential commercial applications, particularly for portable electronic equipment and as backup for desktop electronic equipment.