team at Monash University has developed a new graphene-based material that gives supercapacitors a major boost in energy storage while keeping the fast charge and high-power performance they are known for. The researchers believe this could open the door to energy storage devices that act more like a hybrid between a battery and a supercapacitor.
The challenge with supercapacitors has always been the same. They can charge and discharge very quickly, which makes them great for short bursts of power, but they do not store much energy compared to batteries. The Monash group focused on improving the electrode material itself. They started with graphite and used a rapid thermal process to convert it into what they call multiscale reduced graphene oxide. The resulting structure is more open and easier for ions to move through.
This redesigned material gives ions far more pathways to enter and exit the electrode. The result is both higher energy storage and faster movement of charge. In testing, pouch-style supercapacitors made with the new material showed energy densities close to what you would expect from some battery chemistries, but still delivered the quick power bursts that define supercapacitors.
The performance numbers are strong. The energy density approaches levels that begin to overlap with certain battery types, and the power density remains extremely high. The devices also held up well under cycling, which is important if the technology is ever going to be used in real-world products.
Because the material starts from common graphite and uses a process that can scale, the researchers see potential for broader use. Applications might include electric vehicles needing fast charging, industrial systems that rely on quick bursts of energy, or consumer devices that need rapid power delivery without sacrificing capacity.
Supercapacitors and batteries have always required a tradeoff. You picked one for energy storage and the other for power. This work suggests that gap may start to narrow. If the manufacturing approach proves reliable and cost-effective, the technology could change how designers think about short-term energy buffering, fast-charging systems and hybrid power setups.
It is still early, and there will be questions about stability, scalability and cost as development continues. But the results show that rethinking the electrode material rather than the entire device can shift the limits of what supercapacitors are capable of.
Original Story: Lightning-fast power: breakthrough powers supercapacitors that rival batteries – Monash University
