MISIS: Supercapacitors

2024:2024: Announcement of supercapacitors with increased capacity and durability

Researchers at MISIS University have optimized the ability of supercapacitors to store energy by adding an electrically conductive polymer to the structure of the carbon electrode material. This made it possible to optimize capacity and durability devices. Supercapacitors have shown stability at multiple charge and discharge and can be used, for example, in railway transport, autonomous power supply systems and other areas where high power is required. This was announced on July 23, 2024 by representatives of NUST MISIS.

source = MISiS NICS

As reported, supercapacitors are a class of modern energy storage that surpasses conventional capacitors in the amount of energy stored. In some tasks, they can replace batteries: to start engines, return part of the energy when braking vehicles and other equipment. However, the amount of energy stored by supercapacitors is still lower than that of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in the field of electronic devices. Nevertheless, using special materials capable of rapid chemical reactions, it is possible to increase the ability of supercapacitors to store energy several times.

Scientists at NUST MISIS have found out how to optimize the operation of supercapacitors and expand the possibilities of their practical use. Supercapacitor consists of several main parts, one of which is an electrode based on carbon material. Charge is accumulated on its surface of device. As this material, the researchers used a carbon fabric to which an electrically conductive polyaniline polymer was added. It was formed not on the outer surface of the fibers, but in their pores, which made it possible to optimize the capacity and durability of the device.

source = MISiS NICS

Our technique, based on the chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline directly in the pores of a carbon fabric, not only contributes to the optimization of the electrochemical properties of the resulting composite, but also opens up prospects for the introduction into production and use of the technology in a wide range of energy systems. told Kristina Shafigullina, laboratory assistant-researcher of the Department of Physical Chemistry, NUST MISIS

Supercapacitors based on composite electrodes made of carbon fabric and polyaniline have demonstrated efficiency by creating special structures in the carbon fabric that help the material to better store and retain charge. Details of the study are described in the scientific journal Crystals (Q2).

source = MISiS NICS

{{quote 'author
= emphasized Evgeny Statnik, engineer of the 1st category of the scientific project of the laboratory of accelerated particles (LUCH) NUST MISIS' An important component of our work is a deep study of the processes and features of the formation of structural characteristics of the resulting composites up to nanometer scale. This work became possible thanks to the creation of the LUCH laboratory NUST MISIS, which implements the most advanced nanotomography methods. In the work were used two-beam Amber microscope (FIP-SEM) capabilities to visualize the volumetric nanoporosity of the Busofit carbon tissue.}}

The availability of materials and manufacturing technologies allow commercialization of development in areas where long-term energy storage is required. The study was carried out within the framework of the strategic project NUST MISIS "Materials of the Future" under the Ministry of Education and Science Russia program "Priority-2030" (project No. K1-2022- 032).