Internet of Things for Architects

Supercapacitors

Supercapacitors (or supercaps) store energy at significantly higher volumes than typical capacitors. A typical capacitor will have an energy density of somewhere between 0.01 Watt-hours/kg. A supercap has an energy density of 1 to 10 Watt-hours/kg, thus placing them closer to the energy density of a battery that can be on the order of 200 Watt-hours/kg. Like a capacitor, energy is stored electrostatically on a plate, and doesn't involve the chemical transfer of energy like a battery. Usually, supercaps are made of fairly exotic materials like graphene, which can impact on overall cost. Supercaps also have the advantage of charging to their full potential in seconds, whereas Li-ion batteries will charge within minutes to approximately ...