According to foreign media reports, Russian Skolkovo Institute of Technology (Skoltech), Finland’s Aalto University (Aalto University) and researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a high-performance, environmentally friendly, scalable The supercapacitors are expected to be used in wearable electronics.

(Image credit: Skolkovo Institute of Technology)

With their high power density, high charge-discharge rate, long cycle life, and cost-effectiveness, supercapacitors are promising power sources for mobile and wearable electronics, electric vehicles, and other products. However, getting supercapacitors to combine high energy density, safety and eco-friendliness to make them suitable for small devices is quite challenging.

Tanja Kallio, co-author of the research paper and professor at Aalto University, said: “Usually, organic solvents are used in supercapacitors to increase energy density, but such solvents are dangerous and not environmentally friendly, and compared to aqueous electrolytes with higher conductivity, It also reduces power density.”

In previous studies, the scientists succeeded in improving the volumetric capacitance performance, high energy density, and power density of the supercapacitor prototype. Professor Albert Nasibulin of the Skolkovo Institute of Technology said: “We built a prototype supercapacitor, and after 1000 stretching cycles, the performance did not change when the stretching ratio was less than 50%. In order to ensure lower cost and For better environmental benefits, we used a sodium chloride (NaCl)-based electrolyte. In addition, 3D printing or other advanced manufacturing techniques can further reduce the cost of manufacturing this capacitor.”