Electrochemical capacitors (i.e. supercapacitors) include electrochemical double-layer capacitors that depend on the charge storage of ion adsorption and pseudo-capacitors that are based on charge storage involving fast surface redox reactions. The energy storage capacities of supercapacitors are several orders of magnitude higher than those of conventional dielectric capacitors, but are much lower than those of secondary batteries. They typically have high power density, long cyclic stability and high safety, and thus can be considered as an alternative or complement to rechargeable batteries in applications that require high power delivery or fast energy harvesting. This article reviews the latest progress in supercapacitors in charge storage mechanisms, electrode materials, electrolyte materials, systems, characterization methods, and applications. In particular, the newly developed charge storage mechanism for intercalative pseudocapacitive behaviour, which bridges the gap between battery behaviour and conventional pseudocapacitive behaviour, is also clarified for comparison. Finally, the prospects and challenges associated with supercapacitors in practical applications are also discussed.

Electrochemical capacitors: mechanism, materials, systems, characterization and applications

Electrolytes have been identified as some of the most influential components in the performance of electrochemical supercapacitors (ESs), which include: electrical double-layer capacitors, pseudocapacitors and hybrid supercapacitors. This paper reviews recent progress in the research and development of ES electrolytes. The electrolytes are classified into several categories, including: aqueous, organic, ionic liquids, solid-state or quasi-solid-state, as well as redox-active electrolytes. Effects of electrolyte properties on ES performance are discussed in detail. The principles and methods of designing and optimizing electrolytes for ES performance and application are highlighted through a comprehensive analysis of the literature. Interaction among the electrolytes, electro-active materials and inactive components (current collectors, binders, and separators) is discussed. The challenges in producing high-performing electrolytes are analyzed. Several possible research directions to overcome these challenges are proposed for future efforts, with the main aim of improving ESs' energy density without sacrificing existing advantages (e.g., a high power density and a long cycle-life) (507 references).

A review of electrolyte materials and compositions for electrochemical supercapacitors

The science and technology of ultracapacitors are reviewed for a number of electrode materials, including carbon, mixed metal oxides, and conducting polymers. More work has been done using microporous carbons than with the other materials and most of the commercially available devices use carbon electrodes and an organic electrolytes. The energy density of these devices is 3¯5 Wh/kg with a power density of 300¯500 W/kg for high efficiency (90¯95%) charge/discharges. Projections of future developments using carbon indicate that energy densities of 10 Wh/kg or higher are likely with power densities of 1¯2 kW/kg. A key problem in the fabrication of these advanced devices is the bonding of the thin electrodes to a current collector such the contact resistance is less than 0.1 cm2. Special attention is given in the paper to comparing the power density characteristics of ultracapacitors and batteries. The comparisons should be made at the same charge/discharge efficiency.

Ultracapacitors: Why, How, and Where is the Technology

Ongoing technological advances in diverse fields including portable electronics, transportation, and green energy are often hindered by the insufficient capability of energy-storage devices By taking advantage of two different electrode materials, asymmetric supercapacitors can extend their operating voltage window beyond the thermodynamic decomposition voltage of electrolytes while enabling a solution to the energy storage limitations of symmetric supercapacitors This review provides comprehensive knowledge to this field We first look at the essential energy-storage mechanisms and performance evaluation criteria for asymmetric supercapacitors to understand the wide-ranging research conducted in this area Then we move to the recent progress made for the design and fabrication of electrode materials and the overall structure of asymmetric supercapacitors in different categories We also highlight several key scientific challenges and present our perspectives on enhancing the electrochemical performance of future asymmetric supercapacitors

Design and Mechanisms of Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

Over the last decade, significant effort has been devoted to the applications of hierarchically structured porous materials owing to their outstanding properties such as high surface area, excellent accessibility to active sites, and enhanced mass transport and diffusion. The hierarchy of porosity, structural, morphological and component levels in these materials is key for their high performance in all kinds of applications. The introduction of hierarchical porosity into materials has led to a significant improvement in the performance of materials. Herein, recent progress in the applications of hierarchically structured porous materials from energy conversion and storage, catalysis, photocatalysis, adsorption, separation, and sensing to biomedicine is reviewed. Their potential future applications are also highlighted. We particularly dwell on the relationship between hierarchically porous structures and properties, with examples of each type of hierarchically structured porous material according to its chemical composition and physical characteristics. The present review aims to open up a new avenue to guide the readers to quickly obtain in-depth knowledge of applications of hierarchically porous materials and to have a good idea about selecting and designing suitable hierarchically porous materials for a specific application. In addition to focusing on the applications of hierarchically porous materials, this comprehensive review could stimulate researchers to synthesize new advanced hierarchically porous solids.

Applications of hierarchically structured porous materials from energy storage and conversion, catalysis, photocatalysis, adsorption, separation, and sensing to biomedicine

Porous layer-stacking carbon derived from in-built template in biomass for high volumetric performance supercapacitors

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is used as both template and precursor for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon networks through the carbonization of polyaniline (PANI) coated BC. The as-obtained carbon networks can act not only as support for obtaining high capacitance electrode materials such as activated carbon (AC) and carbon/MnO2 hybrid material, but also as conductive networks to integrate active electrode materials. As a result, the as-assembled AC//carbon-MnO2 asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits a considerably high energy density of 63 Wh kg−1 in 1.0 m Na2SO4 aqueous solution, higher than most reported AC//MnO2 asymmetric supercapacitors. More importantly, this asymmetric supercapacitor also exhibits an excellent cycling performance with 92% specific capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. Those results offer a low-cost, eco-friendly design of electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors.

Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Networks for High Energy Density Supercapacitors Derived from Polyaniline Coated Bacterial Cellulose

Facile synthesis of functionalized porous carbon with three-dimensional interconnected pore structure for high volumetric performance supercapacitors

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising supercapacitor electrode materials due to their high specific capacitances. However, their electrochemical performances such as rate performance and energy density at a high current density, are rather poor. Accordingly, a facile strategy is demonstrated for the synthesis of the integrated porous Co–Al hydroxide nanosheets (named as GSP-LDH) with dual support system using dodecyl sulfate anions and graphene sheets as structural and conductive supports, respectively. Owing to fast ion/electron transport, porous and integrated structure, the GSP-LDH electrode exhibits remarkably improved electrochemical characteristics such as high specific capacitance (1043 F g−1 at 1 A g−1) and ultra-high rate performance capability (912 F g−1 at 20 A g−1). Moreover, the assembled sandwiched graphene/porous carbon (SGC)//GSP-LDH asymmetric supercapacitor delivers a high energy density up to 20.4 Wh kg−1 at a very high power density of 9.3 kW kg−1, higher than those of previously reported asymmetric supercapacitors. The strategy provides a facile and effective method to achieve high rate performance LDH based electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Conglai Long

Papers

Porous layer-stacking carbon derived from in-built template in biomass for high volumetric performance supercapacitors

Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Networks for High Energy Density Supercapacitors Derived from Polyaniline Coated Bacterial Cellulose

Facile synthesis of functionalized porous carbon with three-dimensional interconnected pore structure for high volumetric performance supercapacitors

Dual Support System Ensuring Porous Co–Al Hydroxide Nanosheets with Ultrahigh Rate Performance and High Energy Density for Supercapacitors

From flour to honeycomb-like carbon foam: Carbon makes room for high energy density supercapacitors