Specialists from Skoltech, the Institute of Microelectronics Technology and Nanotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other research centers have discovered that treating carbon electrodes with nitrogen and argon plasma doubles their capacity.
This discovery will improve supercapacitors - devices that complement batteries in electric vehicles, trains, and industrial equipment, providing instant energy transfer during peak loads.
Experiments have shown that plasma removes amorphous carbon from the surface of electrodes, creating defects in the material's structure and incorporating nitrogen atoms. This increases pseudocapacitance - the ability to store charge through chemical reactions on the surface.
Supercapacitors differ from lithium-ion batteries in charge-discharge speed, resistance to extreme temperatures, and durability. They are used in transport regenerative braking systems, emergency power supplies for hospitals and data centers, and to stabilize power grids. Increasing capacity will expand their use in wearable electronics, the Internet of Things, and medical devices.
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