Andreas Lab
Research Summary
 

With rising oil prices and growing awareness of the impact of our lifestyle on the environment, people are becoming more interested in alternative energy systems (such as solar and wind power) and energy storage systems (batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors). The research in the Andreas lab focuses on an energy storage system called a supercapacitor, which has a special way of storing charge which they hope will address problems which are hindering or slowing down commercialization of the alternative energy systems. In supercapacitors, the charge is stored at the interface between the supercapacitor electrode and the supercapacitor solution.

Supercapacitors have several benefits when compared to other energy storage systems. For instance, they have much higher power capabilities (in electric vehicle applications, this means they can allow you to drive fast), and they can be charged many, many more times than typical batteries.  (See also the section called “Learn more about supercapacitors”).

Unfortunately, supercapacitors undergo a process called ‘self-discharge’. This is where the supercapacitor loses charge when it has been charged but not immediately used. For example, this could be a real problem if you go on vacation and leave your vehicle at the airport – by the time you return home, the supercapacitor may have lost all of its charge, and you would be unable to start your vehicle. Obviously, therefore, self-discharge may be a significant hindrance to the commercialization of supercapacitors.

The present focus of the research in the Andreas lab is the identification of the causes of self-discharge. Ideally, if we can identify the causes (and mechanisms) of self-discharge we can find a way of minimizing/preventing self-discharge, making supercapacitors more commercially useful and viable.