LIMITING FACTORS FOR CARBON-BASED CHEMICAL DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS

The chemical double-layer (CDL) capacitor improves the energy storage density dramatically when compared with conventional electrolytic capa citors. When compared to batteries, the CDL capacitor is much less ene rgy dense, however the power density is orders of magnitude better. As a result, CDL-battery combinations present an interesting pulse power system with many potential applications. Due to the nature of the CDL , it is inherently a low voltage device. The applications of the CDL c an be tailored to auxiliary energy and burst mode storages which requi re fast charge/discharge cycles. Typical of the applications envisione d are power system backup, directed energy weapons concepts, electric automobiles, and electric actuators. In this paper, we will discuss so me of the general characteristics of carbon-based CDL technology, desc ribing the structure, performance parameters, and methods of construct ion. Further, analytical and experimental results which define the sta te-of-the-art are presented and described in terms of impact on applic ations.