Supercapacitor Electrode Pore Segmentation for Water Purification

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte from conventional KOH or organic solvents to a tap water-based electrolyte containing specific salts (sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate). This parameter change enables the system to achieve both good energy storage capability and corrosion resistance by selecting salt concentrations and types that maintain ionic conductivity while being compatible with tap water and resistant to corrosion.

The patent adopts a disposable, environmentally friendly electrolyte system based on tap water and common salts instead of expensive or harmful conventional electrolytes. This approach sacrifices the long-term stability of KOH systems but gains in environmental compatibility, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness, making the supercapacitor suitable for water purification applications where the device may be replaced rather than maintained.

The patent applies local quality by using different pore size distributions in different regions or types of activated carbon electrodes. Specifically, it employs activated carbon with optimized pore structures where mesopores (2-50 nm) are enhanced to improve ion accessibility, while micropores (<2 nm) provide high surface area for capacitance. This local optimization of pore characteristics in different electrode regions allows simultaneous achievement of high capacitance and good ion transport.

The patent uses composite electrode materials combining activated carbon with conductive additives and binder materials to create a hierarchical structure. The activated carbon provides high surface area, while the composite structure with conductive materials ensures efficient electron transport and ion accessibility. This composite approach allows the electrode to simultaneously achieve high capacitance through large surface area and good ion accessibility through optimized pore architecture and conductive pathways.

The patent segments the pore structure into distinct hierarchical levels: micropores for high surface area, mesopores for ion transport, and macropores for bulk electrolyte access. By segmenting the pore size distribution rather than using a uniform structure, the electrode achieves both high specific surface area (from micropores) and good ion accessibility (from mesopores and macropores), thereby maintaining high power density without sacrificing capacitance.

The patent transitions from considering only pore size as a single dimension to a multi-dimensional pore architecture that includes pore size distribution, pore volume, and pore connectivity. This dimensional expansion allows the electrode to optimize for both surface area and ion accessibility simultaneously by creating a hierarchical pore network where different pore sizes serve different functions, achieving high power density without reducing specific surface area.