Progress beyond the state of the art
Ultracapacitors store energy through charge separation in the electrochemical double layer (EDL). Since the EDL only forms on the surface of the electrode material, the energy density of Ultracapacitors (or electrochemical double layer capacitors, EDLCs) is limited by the available surface area of the electrode material.
The innovation proposed in X-CAP overcomes this physical limitation of energy storage in Ultracapacitors and enabling more than 10 times increased energy storage compared to today’s available products by introducing redox-active components into the electrodes, which then can store more energy than could be achieved by classical double layer storage.
Skeleton has developed 2 main pathways for the integration of metal oxides into Ultracapacitor electrodes: Hybrid materials and composite materials. Both composite and hybrid materials are viable options for increasing an Ultracapacitor’s energy content beyond classic double layer barriers.
Expected results until the end of the project
The technology is identified to be at TRL6, as the successful coating on aluminum foil in a roll-to-toll process displays the readiness for roll-to-roll coating in a pilot environment and subsequent cell prototype manufacturing, using otherwise known and established materials and processes for separator, cell construction and electrolyte.
At the end of the project, the technology is expected to be at TRL 8.
Potential impacts (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)
Societal needs in industrial, grid and automotive sector have one common denominator: the cost of energy storage paired with fast charging capabilities and long lifetime.
The transition from fossil to renewable energies has its bottleneck in energy storage. Energy consumers expect unlimited, reliable energy, which is faced with challenges due to the volatility of renewable energy sources. Here, X-Caps can have significant positive impact on the nexus of social and economic behavior which affects the climate and the environment
In addition, the Großröhrsdorf facility where X-Cap will be developed and produced is located in a former coal mining region in East Germany, near the Czech boarder. Skeleton has chosen this site due to our commitment to further a just energy transition, not only in our technology, but in an effort to bring clean, safe, and permanent jobs to a region in transition.
