Electronically conducting polymers and activated carbon: Electrode materials in supercapacitor technology

Abstract

Supercapacitors are now attracting much attention as battery‐complementary devices for applications requiring high operating power levels, such as in electric vehicle technology. Two types of supercapacitors with different modes of energy storage are currently under study: the double‐layer, and the redox. Electronically conducting polymers represent an interesting class of electro‐active materials for redox supercapacitors and can be applied in different configurations. Performance data for new and conventional devices are presented and compared to those of a double‐layer capacitor with activated carbon electrodes.