Columbia Technology Ventures

Flexible, hydrogel-based supercapacitor operable over a wide temperature range

This technology is a supercapacitor enabled by a water-based hydrogel electrolyte, enabling operability over a wide range of temperatures.

Unmet Need: Thin-film supercapacitors compatible with harsh conditions

Thin-film supercapacitors are critical electronic components for portable devices and wearable technologies due to their charging stability and portability. Many thin-film supercapacitors utilize water-based hydrogels. However, most hydrogels are not robust with regard to temperature, limiting their use in harsh conditions. There is a need for the development of water-based hydrogel electrolytes with wide temperature compatibilities in order to improve the versatility of thin-film supercapacitors.

The Technology: Durable supercapacitor with broad temperature range operability

This technology is a temperature-flexible supercapacitor enabled by a water-based hydrogel electrolyte. The electrolyte is fabricated with montmorillonite and poly(vinyl alcohol) to enable operation at temperatures ranging from -50º to 90ºC. This hydrogel composition allows for enhanced ionic conductivity and thermal stability and is also relatively cost effective ($0.29/gram). This technology has the potential to greatly increase the range of operational temperatures of hydrogel electrolytes and expand the integration of thin-film supercapacitors into functional devices.

Applications:

  • Wearable and flexible electronics
  • Thin-film energy storage devices
  • Personalized healthcare devices
  • Smart cards
  • Portable display technologies
  • Printed electronics
  • Space missions and technology
  • Electronics for extreme environments

Advantages:

  • Cost-effective
  • Durable
  • Flexible
  • Operable over wide temperature range
  • High specific capacitance and current density

Lead Inventor:

Xi Chen, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference: