Supercapacitor Electrode Composition That Prevents Active Carbon Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Functional active carbon in supercapacitors is prone to dissolution in hydrophilic electrolytes due to its hydrophilic surface properties, which hinders the formation of an effective electric double layer and affects the device's performance.
Innovation Solution
An electrode composition incorporating active carbon with hydrophilic functional groups, a hardening polymer binder, and a cross-linking agent forms a three-dimensionally cross-linked network, preventing dissolution and enhancing the electric double layer formation without the need for additional conductive materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If functional active carbon with hydrophilic surface properties is used to enhance electric double layer formation, then the storage capacity is improved, but the active carbon dissolves in hydrophilic electrolytes
Solution Approach 1:
A binder layer comprising a polymer and a silane crosslinking agent is introduced as an intermediary between the functional active carbon and the hydrophilic electrolyte. The silane crosslinking agent forms a hydrophobic network structure that mediates the interaction, preventing direct contact between hydrophilic active carbon surfaces and hydrophilic electrolyte, thereby preventing dissolution while maintaining electric double layer formation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the electrode structure are changed by introducing a crosslinked polymer network with different hydrophobicity parameters. The silane crosslinking agent creates a hydrophobic barrier layer that changes the effective surface property from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, preventing dissolution in hydrophilic electrolytes while preserving the underlying active carbon's functionality
2Quantity of substance
If the area of electrodes is increased to improve storage capacity, then the storage capacity increases, but the volume of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Porous active carbon material is used as the electrode structure, providing extremely high internal surface area within a compact volume. The porous structure allows the electrode to achieve large effective area for electric double layer formation without proportionally increasing the external device volume, as the surface area is generated through internal pore structures rather than external expansion
3Reliability
If a hydrophobic polymer binder is used to maintain conductivity, then the conductivity is good, but the electric double layer formation is hindered due to hydrophobicity
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode structure exhibits different local quality properties at different levels: the bulk polymer binder maintains hydrophobicity for conductivity, while the surface-functionalized active carbon particles maintain hydrophilicity for electrolyte interaction. The silane crosslinked network creates a gradient structure where hydrophobicity is localized in the binder matrix while hydrophilic active carbon surfaces remain exposed at interfaces with the electrolyte
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents the dissolution of functional active carbon, maximizes electric double layer formation, and ensures good conductivity, leading to improved performance and stability of the supercapacitor.
Implementation Method 1
a silane crosslinking agent, and a solvent wherein the silane crosslinking agent forms a three-dimensionally cross-linked network structure
Implementation Method 2
The capacitor storages electricity by forming a charge ion layer at both ends of an electrode, when a dielectric material is positioned between two metal plates which are apart by a predetermined distance, and the voltage is applied
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed in that an electrode composition for a supercapacitor, a cured material of the composition, an electrode including the cured material, a supercapacitor including the electrode, and a method of preparing the supercapacitor, and the electrode composition prevents the problems in which active carbon is dissolved in an electrolyte.