II. SUPERCAPACITORS:
The topic is focused on the preparation and study of new high-capacitance electrode materials to enhance the energy and power supplied by the current devices.
Regarding this theme, the following topics will be carried out:
– Study of different kinds of carbons as electrode active materials: activated carbons that are mainly microporous materials, mesoporous-templated carbons, amorphous and crystalline carbon nanofibres, carbon nanotubes and threedimensional carbon monoliths. The specific capacitance of the carbons will be analyzed as functions of the specific surface area and pore size distribution. The specific capacitance measured at high currents will be discussed in relation to the carbon electric conductivity.
– Preparation of electrodes made of nanometer particles of an oxide deposited on carbon monoliths. The oxide (e.g. RuO2.xH2O, MnO2.xH2O, etc) with high specific capacitance (700 F/g for the ruthenium oxide and 200 F/g for the manganese one), provides the capacitance and hence the energy of the electrode. The carbon monoliths with good electric conductivity (~10 S/cm) and a porous 3D structure (favoring the accessibility of the electrolyte to the oxide particles) can provide a high electrode power.
– Preparation of new oxides with high specific capacitance (>200 F/g) and low cost. This research involves more risk because only a few oxides are known to have good electrochemical response as electrodes.
– Study of the electrodes by means of localized electrochemical techniques. These techniques can provide information at micrometer scale of electrochemical processes undergoing on the electrodes. The techniques can also be applied to study the collector/electrolyte interface. The research is part of the aim of a project in the frame of a RyC contract (Violeta Barranco).
– Concerning the transfer of knowledge to the industry, we will continue cooperating with private companies for developing either supercapacitor prototypes or devices in which supercapacitors are associated with a power source, in particular with a fuel cell.
In this topic we are currently cooperating with researchers from two CSIC Institutes: CENIM and INCAR.