Material systems for high power electrochemical energy storage

超级电容器是一种独特的电化学能量存储系统，适用于从脉冲通信到手持工具再到电动和混合动力汽车的高功率应用。超级电容器一方面比传统电池或燃料电池具有更高的功率密度、更快的充放电速率和更长的循环寿命，另一方面比传统的催化电容器具有更高的能量密度，可以填补这两者之间的空白。超级电容器-电池(或燃料电池)混合系统在处理高功率和延长电池或燃料电池的寿命方面非常有效。因此，超级电容器已成为高功率电子和汽车，特别是电动汽车的关键使能技术。拟议的发现拨款的范围是探索用于高功率和高能超级电容器设备的新材料系统。这些新的材料系统将包括用于增强储能能力的化学修饰的新型电极材料，以及用于高性能和易于加工的聚合物电解质。该计划的成功将产生一个高性能、安全使用、形状灵活且不受传统金属罐包装的电化学存储装置的新平台。在此过程中，我们将加深对材料之间相互作用机理的理解，以便我们能够设计和设计用于超级电容器应用和其他电化学能量存储系统的材料系统。

The ultracapacitor is a unique electrochemical energy storage system for high power applications from pulse communication to hand-held tools to electrical and hybrid vehicles. Possessing higher power density, a faster charge/discharge rate, and longer cycle life than conventional batteries or fuel cells, on one hand, and higher energy density than conventional catalytic capacitors on the other, ultracapacitors can fill the gap between these. Ultracapacitor-battery (or fuel cell) hybrid systems are very effective in handling high power and extending the life of batteries or fuel cells.  Thus, ultracapacitors have become a critical enabling technology for high power electronics and automotives, especially for electrical vehicles.The scope of the proposed Discovery Grant is to explore novel material systems for high power and high energy ultracapacitor devices. These new material systems will be comprised of novel electrode materials chemically modified for enhanced energy storage capacity, and polymer electrolytes for high performance and easy processing.  The success of the program will result a new platform of electrochemical storage devices that is high in performance, safe to use, with flexible form factors and free from traditional "metal can" packaging.  Along the way, we will develop an understanding of the mechanism of the interactions between the materials so that we can design and engineer the material system for ultracapacitor applications and other electrochemical energy storage systems.