Flow of the presentation

Nanomaterials in
Supercacitors
 ENERGY STORING DEVICES

Energy storage devices are essential systems that store energy for later use , converting it into a usable form
when needed. They play a crucial role in managing energy supply and demand across various applications.

Key Points:

● Energy Management: These devices balance electricity supply and demand, storing excess energy
during low demand and releasing it during peak times to ensure a stable power supply.
● Renewable Energy Integration: With the rise of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, energy
storage devices are vital for storing intermittent energy , allowing for its use when generation is low
(e.g., at night or during cloudy weather).
● Power Backup: They provide backup power for critical applications , such as hospitals and data centers,
ensuring essential services remain operational during outages.
● Improved Efficiency: By storing energy close to where it is consumed, these devices reduce
transmission losses, leading to more efficient power usage and lower costs .
 excellent electrical conductivity, which
Capacitors allows for efficient charge storage and
A capacitor is an electronic component that stores transfer.
electrical energy in the form of an electric charge. It
consists of two conductive plates separated by an
insulating material known as a dielectric. ● Dielectric Material : A dielectric material is
Components of Capacitors an insulating substance that separates the
● Conductive Plates : Conductive plates in conductive plates in a capacitor . Its primary
capacitors are typically made from metals such role is to enhance capacitance by allowing
as aluminum, tantalum, or silver . These metals more charge to be stored for a given voltage
are chosen for their while preventing direct electrical contact
between the plates.
 Working of Capacitors
● A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating
material called a dielectric (e.g., paper, ceramic, or plastic).
● When connected to a voltage source (like a battery), electrons move
from one plate to the other . This creates a negative charge on one
plate and a positive charge on the other, resulting in an electric field
between the plates.
● The separation of charges generates an electric field proportional to
the amount of charge stored . The dielectric material enhances this
effect, allowing more charge to be stored without breakdown .
● Once the capacitor reaches its maximum charge for a given voltage,
no further current flows into it. It now holds energy in the electric
field created between the plates.
 ● When connected to a load (like a resistor), the accumulated charge flows
back through the circuit, allowing current to flow until both plates return
to their neutral state.

Components of Supercapacitors
Supercapacitors
Supercapacitors, also known as ultracapacitors or
● Electrodes: Supercapacitors consist of two
double-layer capacitors, are advanced energy
electrodes made from high-surface-area
storage devices that combine the characteristics of
materials, typically activated carbon . This high
traditional capacitors and batteries . They are
surface area allows for greater charge
designed to store and release electrical energy
storage.
quickly, making them suitable for various
● Electrolyte: The electrodes are immersed in an
applications in modern electronics.
electrolyte solution, which can be aqueous or
organic. The electrolyte facilitates ion
 movement between the electrodes during
charging and discharging.
● Separator/Membrane: A separator is used to
prevent direct contact between the electrodes
while allowing ions to pass through. Made of
Kapton
● Current Collector : Made of Al,facilitate the
efficient transfer of electrical current
between the electrodes and the external
circuit.
 Working of Supercapacitors
● Supercapacitors consist of two electrodes made from
high-surface-area materials (such as activated carbon or
graphene) immersed in an electrolyte solution
containing positive and negative ions. A separator is
placed between the electrodes to prevent direct contact
while allowing ionic movement.
● Charging : When a voltage is applied across the
supercapacitor, one electrode becomes positively
charged, and the other becomes negatively charged . This
occurs as positive ions from the electrolyte migrate
toward the negatively charged electrode , while negative
ions move toward the positively charged electrode . This
movement of ions leads to the formation of an electric
double layer at each electrode-electrolyte interface.
● The electric double layer consists of a thin layer of ions
that forms on the surface of each electrode, allowing for significant charge separation . This charge
separation creates an electric field that stores energy . The capacitance is enhanced by maximizing the
surface area of the electrodes and minimizing the distance between them.
●
● Supercapacitors primarily utilize two mechanisms for energy storage:
i. Electric Double-Layer Capacitance (EDLC): Energy is stored electrostatically through
charge separation at the electrodeelectrolyte interfaces.
ii. Pseudocapacitance: Involves fast redox reactions occurring at the surface of the
electrodes, allowing for additional energy storage through electrochemical
processes. This mechanism enables supercapacitors to achieve higher energy
densities compared to traditional capacitors.
Discharging : During discharging of the supercapacitor
due to presence of a load, the electrodes starts to
lose charge and the charge flows through the external
circuit and then it provides the energy to the load . So
both the electrodes (positive and negative) loose
charges and hence they cannot attract the ions
anymore and the ions start distributing in the
electrolyte as it was before being charged.
 NANOMATERIALS I N SUPERCAPACITORS

CARBON NANOTUBES:

CNTs are cylindrical molecules with a diameter ranging from 1 nm to a few nanometers and length up to
a few micrometers. Their structure consists of a graphite sheet wrapped into a cylin der.

A carbon nanotube is a planar sheet of graphite (called graphene) rolled up into a seamless cylinder with
diameter in the order of a nanometre .

CNTs can in general be classified as either single -walled nanotubes (SWNTs) or multi -walled nanotubes
(MWNTs). SWNTs have a cylindrical shell with one atom thickness . Concentric arrangement of several
single-walled nanotubes of slightly varying diameters is termed as a multi -walled nanotube.
 CNT IN SUPERCAPACITORS
In a conventional capacitor, energy is typi cally stored by the transfer of electrons from one metal
electrode to another metal electrode separated by an electronically insulat ing material.

In the case of a supercapacitor, there is instead an electrical double layer . Each layer contains a highly
porous electrode sus pended within an electrolyte. An applied potential on the positive electrode
attracts the negative ions in the electrolyte, whereas the potential on the negative electrode attracts
the positive ions.

A dielectric material between the two electrodes prevents the charges from crossing between the two
electrodes. If the electrodes are made of CNTs, the effective charge separation is about a nanom eter,
compared with separations on the order of micrometers for ordinary capacitors.

This small separation, combined with a large surface area, is responsible for the high capacitance of
these devices (one to two orders of magnitude higher than conventional capacitors). In addition,
although it is an electrochemical device, no chemical re actions are involved, allowing the ultracapacitor
to be rapidly charged and discharged hundreds of thousands of times.
 Capacitance of the Supercapacitor

From the diagram ,

Capacitance , C1 A/d and C2 A/d

Where A is area of the electrodes and d is the small distance between plates

So the total capacitance of the supercapacitor comes out to be:

C = (C1.C2/C1 + C2)

Difference between Supercapacitors and Capacitors

C1 C2
 Supercapacitor Capacitor
● Store energy through electrostatic ● double-layer capacitance and ● Higher self-discharge rate, leading to quicker loss of
pseudocapacitance, involving both stored energy when idle.
charge separation and reversible electrochemical reactions.
●
● Considered more environmentally friendly with non-toxic
● Higher energy density, storing 10 to 100 times more energy per unit materials and minimal pollution during production and
volume or mass compared to normal capacitors. disposal.
Store energy electrostatically through an electric field between two
conductive plates separated by a dielectric material.
● Extremely long cycle life, capable of enduring hundreds of
thousands to millions of charge/discharge cycles without
Lower energy density, generally storing less energy per unit volume or
significant degradation.
mass.
● Charge and discharge almost instantaneously, but with

Supercapacitor Capacitor
● Capable of rapid charging and discharging within seconds, making limited energy release capability.
them ideal for applications requiring quick bursts of power.
● Lower self-discharge rate, retaining stored energy for
longer periods when not in use.
● May contain hazardous materials depending on the type (e.g., ● Limited cycle life, typically in the range of thousands of
electrolytic capacitors). cycles before degradation occurs.

Applications where we prefer capacitors over Supercapacitors

1. In household electronics, such as televisions and audio systems, normal capacitors are used to filter
out noise from the power supply
2. In digital clocks and timers , capacitors are used to create precise timing intervals .
3. In audio amplifiers, capacitors couple audio signals between different stages of amplification. They
block DC while allowing AC signals (audio) to pass through, maintaining sound quality.
4. In air conditioning units and refrigerators , normal capacitors provide the initial boost of energy
needed to start the compressor motor.
5. In industrial settings, normal capacitors are used to improve power factor in electrical systems ,
reducing energy costs and improving efficiency by compensating for inductive loads.

Applic atio ns where we prefer Supercapacitors o ver c apacito rs :

1. Supercapacitors are used in electric buses and cars to capture energy during braking (regenerative
braking) and provide quick bursts of power during acceleration, enhancing energy efficiency.
2. In solar energy systems, supercapacitors store excess energy generated during peak sunlight hours for
later use, helping to stabilize the power supply and reduce reliance on the grid.
3. Supercapacitors provide short-term backup power in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for
computers and critical equipment during power outages, ensuring continuous operation.
4. Supercapacitors are used in fast charging stations for electric vehicles , enabling rapid charging to
minimize downtime and improve operational efficiency.
5. Supercapacitors power wireless sensors used in smart homes to monitor environmental conditions (like
temperature and humidity), reducing the need for frequent battery replacements.
THANK U