This technology development funded under NaMPET, is executed by IISc Bangalore .
The strength of chemical batteries lies in their high energy content (high energy density, in J/kg or Wh/kg) and their weakness lies in the inability to deliver energy at high rate (low power density, in W/kg). Hence, the batteries used in cars, mobile phones, etc. are grossly over dimensioned in order to give the necessary power during rather infrequent periods (when there is a need for a power surge while starting a car or in the case of a mobile phone, when it is transmitting). By combining the high energy density of a battery with the high power density of a supercapacitor, small and light batteries could be used in cars, mobile phones, etc.

The present project envisages the performance evaluation of capacitors that have been developed in the laboratory scale at IISc. based on exfoliated graphite and carbon aerogels as electrode materials. The laboratory scale devices will be scaled up to sealed, leak-proof capacitors and their performance will be evaluated under the scope of this proposal.

The proposed capacitance value is in the range 30-40 F/g and the major activities as follows.

• Integration of the carbon/graphite electrodes in to supercapacitor configuration using liquid and solid electrolytes.
  
  
• To evaluate the reliability of integration of supercapacitors from carbon aerogel / exfoliated graphite based electrodes.
  
  
• Process standardization for obtaining optimum capacitance.
  
  
• Selection of suitable electrode / electrolyte and optimization of the integration conditions for better performance.