IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - September 2023 - 59

supercapacitor assisted (SCA) techniques where the longtime
constant property of a supercapacitor based circuit is
creatively utilized. These SCA techniques summarised in [1]
are applied to extra low frequency dc-dc converters and
transient protection systems. These systems are based on a
new theoretical concept now known as supercapacitor
assisted loss management (SCALoM) System [29].
Longer-Term Possibility of SC Replacing Li-Batteries
Based on Effective Long-Term Capital Cost
Table 5 shows a price per Farad analysis of commercially
available SCs from Samwha-Korea. As we see from this,
larger capacitors are more economical in terms of price per
Farad in general. When we consider using the newer families
such as battery capacitors, which comes with a penalty
of shorter life cycles, they are much cheaper to use.
Table 6 illustrates the possibility of achieving a longerterm
capital cost-benefit by using SCs to replace rechargeable
batteries.
As per details in Table 6, similar volume battery capacitors
are cheaper than Li-ion cells, based on their device
cost. Once you consider the (at least) 15 times longer life
of battery capacitors, they become significantly cheaper
in terms of cost per 1,000 cycles of use. In the case of
the hybridized form of an energy source of SC-battery
pair, much more overall life within the cost margins may
be achieved. This discussion is beyond the scope of this
review article.
Future Directions of Carbon-Based SC Material
Since supercapacitors have become one of the arising innovations
of energy storage devices, scientists and researchers
are keeping busy exploring ways to increase the functionality
of the electrode type or seeking suitable electrolyte
materials for supercapacitors to achieve high power densities
as well as high energy densities. Even though it is challenging
for them to find proper electrode material or
electrolyte for the SC development process, two dimensional
(2D) nanomaterials such as quasi-graphene, MXene
and transition metal dichalcogenides are highly considered
for SCs because of their exceptional physical and chemical
behavior letting them possess outstanding mechanical and
electrical properties, as well the benefit of high surface area
[16]. Carbon-based 2D nanomaterials such as graphene,
Mxenes and activated carbons store energy primarily using
the mechanism of double-layer charge storage. But, they
also use the pseudocapacitive mechanism when it has been
doped with appropriate materials or functioning chemically.
And the other 2D nanomaterial type of inorganic 2D nanomaterials,
such as 2D metal oxide, transition metal dichalcogenides
(TMD), and transition metal carbide (TMC) use the
redox-ion intercalation pseudocapacitive behaviors [16].
Conclusion
Table 6. Longer term cost-comparison of SCs with
Li-ion batteries with similar capacities [30], [31].
-
Device
type
1,500 F
battery
cap
3,300 F
battery
cap
6,500 F
battery
cap
9,500 F
battery
cap
4,500
Li-ion
14,500
Li-Ion
18,650
Li-ion
26,650
CA Liion
Capacity
mAh
rating
600
1,100
2,200
3,300
1,200
800
2,600
3,400
Voltage
Price
per
2.7
2.7
2.7
2.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
device
($)
3.7
7.41
12.35
43.21
12.24
11.9
18.9
31
Cyclelife
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
Price
for
1,000
cycles
($)
0.25
0.49
0.82
2.88
Acknowledgment
12.24
11.9
18.9
31
This research received funding support provided via the
Future Architecture Network (FAN) Project of the
Advanced Energy Technology Program (AETP) of the Ministry
of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand.
About the Authors
Nadee Arawwawala (saumya.nadee@gmail.com)
received the B.Eng. degree in digital communications and
electronics engineering from the University of Hertfordshire,
U.K., where she received the M.Sc. degree in
September 2023 z IEEE POWER ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE 59
This work indicates that the current progress of the newer
commercial supercapacitor families, such as hybrid types
are gradually moving towards the properties of high energy
Li-ion battery chemistries, but without seriously compromising
the cycle life. As summarized by the list of references,
we see that lot of new commercialization happening
on the devices while new and unique applications beyond
battery replacements are also achieved. Battery-capacitors
are a new commercial family, which has reached the energy
density of lead-acid batteries, but maintaining their life cycle
count still adequate-enough to use them as fit-and-forget
devices in consumer electronics, industrial electronics and
transportation area. More research on hybridization may
lead to better overall energy storage systems, compared to
lone Li-ion battery chemistry. We are looking forward to
interesting developments in the next five years.
IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - September 2023

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