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Planar CAPacitors for high temperature and mid-frequency operation

Project description

Creating tantalum-free electronics

Electronic devices such as phones or computers depend on capacitors to store electrical energy. However, they become less reliable at increasing temperatures and are often made from hard-to-source elements like tantalum. The EU-funded P.CAP project aims to solve this by developing a new planar electric double layer capacitor which offers better performance at high temperatures and a longer lifetime. Using novel materials, the C2C-NewCap team will produce a capacitor that can operate at over 250 ºC, with an operating life greater than 1 000 hours. They will then test this prototype in high-temperature situations, such as mining and under the hood of electric vehicles. The goal is to provide capacitors free of conflict minerals which can eventually be used in all electronic equipment.

Objective

Capacitors are ubiquitous in any electronic device, with aluminium and tantalum electrolytic capacitors used whenever larger capacitances are required. However, they suffer from reliability issues, especially when operating at high temperatures: a temperature increase of 10 C halves their life. In the case of tantalum there is an additional concern: it is considered a critical raw material that generates environmental and societal concerns and it has been gaining a lot of attention from capacitor manufacturers in the search for an alternative technology solution. P.CAP project brings an alternative to aluminium and tantalum electrolytic capacitors: planar electric double layer capacitors (P.EDLCs) with enhanced performance at mid frequencies and high temperature. EDLCs are energy storage devices with a much larger DC capacitance than capacitors and excellent cyclability, but current technology behave as resistors at frequencies greater than 1 Hz. Under the right conditions, we have proven that they can operate at higher frequencies (1-200 Hz) while maintaining the merits of EDLCs: large capacitance and extended lifetime. Moreover, when thermally stable ionic liquids are used as electrolyte, they can operate at temperatures above 200 C. In the P.CAP project, a TRL7 prototype bipolar capacitor that can operate at >250 C, with an operating life of more than 1000 h at this temperature and a rated voltage above 40 V, will be manufactured. This prototype will be used as a minimum viable product to validate the device in applications where reliability and high-temperature are required, such as mining and electric vehicles. The main project goal is to reach a pre-commercial stage with a clear roadmap for upscaling production and start pilot testing during the project. Our long term vision is to further miniaturise the technology and provide a tantalum-free solution for smartphones, tablets and printed circuit boards used in all electronic equipment.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITION-01

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Coordinator

CHARGE2C-NEWCAP LDA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 468 750,00
Address
AVENIDA JOSE FRANCISCO GUERREIRO PAIA PARK ARMAZEM A2.12
1675-078 Odivelas
Portugal

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 468 750,00
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