Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T23:52:17.976Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Material Characteristics and the Performance of Electrochemical Capacitors for Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

A.F. Burke
Affiliation:
University of California - Davis, Institute of Transportation Studies, 2028 Academic Serv Bldg.., Room 2003, Davis, CA 95616
T.C. Murphy
Affiliation:
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3830
Get access

Abstract

Electrochemical capacitors (ultracapacitors) are one approach to meeting the high power requirements for the energy storage system in an electric vehicle. Energy is stored in an electrochemical capacitor by charge separation in the double layer formed in the micropores of a very high surface area electrode material, which does not undergo chemical change as in a battery. Consequently, the material requirements for capacitors are very different from those of batteries. In the last several years, a number of promising material technologies have been identified for use in electrochemical capacitors. These include activated carbon fibers, foams, and composites, doped conducting polymers, and mixed metal oxides. The most important material property is its specific capacitance (F/gm or F/cm3). Carbon materials with specific capacitances of 100 to 300 F/gm have been developed. Doped polymer materials having specific capacitances of 300 to 400 F/gm are also being studied. In addition to high specific capacitance, the electrode material must also have a low electronic resistivity ( < 0.1 Ω-cm) in order that charge can be distributed with minimum voltage drop in the electrode. Electrochemical capacitor cells have been fabricated using the various material technologies with both aqueous and organic electrolytes. Tests of the cells have shown near ideal charge/discharge characteristics — that is, the voltage versus time curves are nearly linear for constant current tests. The energy densities of 1 V cells, using aqueous electrolytes, are 1 to 1.5 W-h/kg and those of 3 V cells, using organic electrolytes are 7 to 10 W-h/kg. Most of the cells have high power densities of 1 to 3 kW/kg. Numerous new materials for electrochemical capacitors have been identified, processed, and tested in electrodes and cells in recent years and progress is rapid in this relatively new field of research.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1 Conway, B.E., “Transition from Super-Capacitor to Battery Behavior in Electrochemical Energy Storage,” Journal of Electrochemical Society, Vol. 138, No. 6, June 1991.Google Scholar
2 Raistrick, I.D., “The Electrochemistry of Semiconductors and Electronics — Processes and Devices,” Noyes, NJ: Ed. J., Hardy and F., Ludwig, 1992.Google Scholar
3 Newman, J.S., “Electrochemical Systems,” 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 1991.Google Scholar
4 Crow, D.R., “Principles and Applications of Electrochemistry,”, 4th Edition, Blackie Academic & Professional, 1994.Google Scholar
5 Kohler, D.A., Zabasajja, , Krishnogopalan, J.N., and Tatarchuk, B.J., “Metal-Carbon Composite Materials from Fiber Precursors; I. Preparation of Stainless Steel-Carbon Composite Electrodes; II. Electrochemical Characterization of Stainless Steel-Carbon Structures” Journal of Electrochemical Society, Vol. 137, No. 1, and No. 6 January and June 1990.Google Scholar
6 Farahmandi, C.J., “A Comparison of Electrochemical Capacitors Using Organic and Aqueous Electrolytic Solutions for Electric Vehicle Applications,” Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1993.Google Scholar
7 Farahmandi, C.J. and Blank, E., “Bipolar Electrochemical Capacitors Based on Organic Electrolytes for Electric Vehicles,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1994.Google Scholar
8 Mayer, S.T., Pekala, R.W., and Kaschmitter, J.L., “The Aerocapacitor: A Carbon Aerogel -Based Supercapacitor,” Journal of Electrochemical Society, Vol. 140, No. 2, February 1993.Google Scholar
9 Delnick, F.M., Ingersoll, D., and Firsich, D., “Double-Layer Capacitance of Carbon Foam Electrodes,” Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1993.Google Scholar
10 Delnick, F.M., “Carbon Supercapacitors,” Symposium on the Science of Advanced Batteries, Cleveland, OH, November 1993.Google Scholar
11 Lipka, S.M., “Application of Carbon Fiber Materials for Double-Layer Capacitors,” Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1993.Google Scholar
12 Saito, T.S., Kibi, Y., Kurata, M., Tabuchi, J., and Ochi, A., “Fabrication of High-Power Electric Double-Layer Capacitors,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1994.Google Scholar
13 Rudge, A., Davey, J., Raistrick, I., and Gottesfeld, S., “Conducting Polymers as Potential Active Materials in Electrochemical Supercapacitors,” Proceedings of the Second International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1992.Google Scholar
14 Rudge, A., Davey, J., Uribe, F., Landeros, J., and Gottesfeld, S., “Performance Evaluation of Polypyrrole and Polyaniline as Active Materials for Electrochemical Capacitors,” Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1993.Google Scholar
15 Ren, X., Davey, J., Rudge, A., Ferraris, J., and Gottesfeld, S., “Electrochemical Capacitors Based on Conducting Polymer Active Materials,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1994.Google Scholar
16 Rudge, A., Davey, J., Raistrick, I., Gottesfeld, S., and Ferraris, J.P., “Conducting Polymers as Active Materials in Electrochemical Capacitors,” Journal of Power Sources, 1994, pp. 47, 89.Google Scholar
17 Bullard, G.L., Alcazar, H.B.S., Lee, H. L., and Morris, J.L., “Operating Principles of the Ultracapacitors,” IEEE Fourth Symposium on Electromagnetic Launch Technology, Austin, TX, April 1988.Google Scholar
18 Tong, R.R., Mason, G.E., Lee, H.L., and Bullard, G.L., “Power Characteristics of the Ultracapacitor,” Proceedings of the 33rd International Power Sources Symposium, Cherry Hill, NJ, June 1988.Google Scholar
19 Jow, T.R., Cygan, P.J., Carter, J., Gilman, S., and Krzastek, L., “Fast Discharge of Electrochemical Capacitors,” Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society Symposium on New Sealed Rechargeable Batters and Supercapacitors, Honolulu, Hawaii, May 1993.Google Scholar
20 Murphy, T.C., and Kramer, W.E., “U.S. Department of Energy Ultracapacitor Development Program for Load-Leveling Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Double Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1994.Google Scholar
21 Jow, T.R., and Zheng, J.P., “Electrochemical Capacitors Based on Amorphous Ruthenium Oxide,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, LF, December 1994.Google Scholar
22 Levie, R., “Advances in Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering,” Vol 6, P. Delahay, Interscience, 1967.Google Scholar
23 Delnick, F.M., Jaeger, C.D., and Levy, S., “AC Impedance Study of Porous Carbon Collectors for Li/SO2 Primary Cells,” Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol. 35, pp. 2328, 1985.Google Scholar
24 Goodwin, M.L., “Examples of Advanced Pinnacle Research Institute Ultracapacitor Product Development Exercises,” Proceedings of the Second International Seminar on Double-Layer Capacitors and Similar Energy Storage Devices, Deerfield Beach, FL, December 1992.Google Scholar
25 Burke, A.F., “Laboratory Testing of High Energy Density Capacitors for Electric Vehicles, ” EGG-EP-9885(M), October 1991.Google Scholar
26 Burke, A.F., and Miller, J., “Electric Vehicle Capacitor Test Procedures Manual,” DOE/ID-10491, October 1994.Google Scholar
27 Burke, A.F., “Electrochemical Capacitors for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: The DOE Program and the Status of the Technology — 1993,” Proceedings of the 1993 Annual Automotive Technology Development Contractors‘Coordination Meeting, SAE Publication P-278, May 1994, and INEL-94/0036, October 1994.Google Scholar
28 Burke, A.F., “Electrochemical Capacitors for Electric Vehicles: A Technology Update and Recent Test Results from the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Proceedings of the 36th Power Sources Conference, Cherry Hill, NJ, June 1994.Google Scholar
29 Burke, A.F., “Electrochemical Capacitors for Electric Vehicles — Technology Update and Implementation Considerations,” Proceedings of the 12th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-12), Anaheim, CA, December 1994.Google Scholar