Improved Lower-cost Electrochemical Capacitor

Electrochemical capacitors have demonstrated tremendous potential for high-energy, high-reliability use in HEVs and PHEVs, as well as in many other transportation and materials handling applications where regenerative capture of otherwise lost energy is required. However, this potential has been consistently under-realized, owing to the high materials and manufacturing costs of current generation devices. To date, attempts at a solution through changes in materials have invariably dead-ended, due to unacceptably compromised performance. Based on a design now underway in a project sponsored by US Navy, this project will develop and demonstrate an electrochemical capacitor that achieves state-of-the-art performance at costs that are one-tenth of today¿s products. The design approach involves decreasing the quantity of expensive electrode materials, replacing exotic electrolytes with commodity materials, and simplifying manufacturing requirements by utilizing techniques already standardized for battery manufacturing (a parallel industry). Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new electrochemical capacitor should have application to HEVs and PHEVs, forklift and gantry technology, public transportation, load-leveling and power quality in solar and wind power sources, and military electronics. In addition, the technology should boost the potential for rapid expansion of the electrochemical capacitor industry.