Researcher from Australia's Monash University developed new graphene-based supercapacitors that feature high energy density - in fact about 12 times higher than commercially available capacitors. These supercapacitors last as long as a conventional battery (lead-acid).
The researchers used an adaptive graphene gel film, developed at Monash in 2012. They used liquid electrolytes to control the spacing between graphene sheets on the sub-nanometre scale. Those electrolytes played a dual role: maintaining the minute space between the graphene sheets and conducting electricity. In this new electrode design, the density is maximized without compromising porosity.
The researchers say that the production process is simple and can be scaled-up cost-effectively.