article · Journal of Materials Research and Technology
This research evaluates the addition of potassium bromide as a redox additive in an aqueous sodium sulphate electrolyte to boost the performance of activated carbon electrodes in supercapacitors. The physical and chemical characteristics of the activated carbon material were analysed alongside its electrochemical behaviour. The introduction of bromide ions introduced battery-like faradaic reactions, substantially enhancing energy storage capacity. In laboratory testing, an individual activated carbon electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 957.8 F g-1, accompanied by a specific energy of 133 Wh kg-1 and a specific power of 859.6 W kg-1. When assembled into a full symmetric supercapacitor device, the system delivered a specific energy of 57.15 Wh kg-1 and a specific power of 5262 W kg-1 at 3.8 A g-1, retaining 82.8 percent of its capacitance after 10,000 cycles.
Supercapacitors charge and discharge much faster than traditional batteries but historically store far less energy per unit of weight. By using a simple bromide additive in an aqueous electrolyte, this method noticeably increases energy storage capability without compromising power output. It offers a route toward higher-capacity, durable energy storage using standard carbon materials and water-based chemistry.
The work could enable higher-energy supercapacitors for electrical energy storage, relevant to developers of power electronics, backup power systems, and energy storage devices. The technology remains at an early, laboratory-tested stage, validated in coin or pouch symmetric cells over 10,000 cycles. Advancing towards commercial use would require scaling the electrode manufacturing, cell casing validation, and testing under real-world operating conditions.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Halogenated Bromide (Br −) was subsequently dosed to aqueous electrolyte solution to enforce the capacitance features of activated carbon (AC) electrodes in electric double-layer supercapacitor devices for electrical energy storage. Physicochemical properties for AC with sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and KBr redox additive were assessed by different characterization tools such as XRD, SEM, EDS, surface roughness, and BET techniques. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the stability after 1000 cycles have been used to monitor the electrochemical behaviors of the prepared electrodes. The presence of halogen atom exhibited large faradaic resembling battery like-type in charge–discharge curves. In the aqueous solution, the investigated electrode showed a high specific capacitance of 957.8 F g−1 at a specific current of 0.46 A g−1 using a certain concentration of KBr added to Na2SO4. The single AC electrode showed specific energy of 133 Wh kg−1 and specific power of 859.6 W kg−1. Besides, the AC electrode displayed excellent long-term stability in Na2SO4@KBr electrolyte, preserving retention capacitance of 174%. AC/AC symmetric supercapacitor cell demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance, including specific energy of 57.15 Wh kg−1, specific capacitance of 127 F g−1, specific power of 5262 W kg−1 at a specific current of 3.8 A g−1, and 82.8% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.01.080
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
