High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects

Abstract The prosperity of microelectronics has intensified the requirement for miniaturized power systems using capacitors with high capacity and broad frequency ranges. Electrochemical supercapacitors stand out with their superior capacitance density, surpassing traditional electrolytic capacitors...

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Main Authors: Zhangshanhao Li, Minghao Xu, Yier Xia, Ziyun Yan, Jianyou Dai, Bingmeng Hu, Haizhao Feng, Sixing Xu, Xiaohong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59015-7
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author Zhangshanhao Li
Minghao Xu
Yier Xia
Ziyun Yan
Jianyou Dai
Bingmeng Hu
Haizhao Feng
Sixing Xu
Xiaohong Wang
author_facet Zhangshanhao Li
Minghao Xu
Yier Xia
Ziyun Yan
Jianyou Dai
Bingmeng Hu
Haizhao Feng
Sixing Xu
Xiaohong Wang
author_sort Zhangshanhao Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The prosperity of microelectronics has intensified the requirement for miniaturized power systems using capacitors with high capacity and broad frequency ranges. Electrochemical supercapacitors stand out with their superior capacitance density, surpassing traditional electrolytic capacitors by at least two orders of magnitude. However, the intrinsic slow ion dynamics of electrical double layer effects greatly limit supercapacitors characteristic frequency, constraining their applicability in microsystems. This work constructs a near-ideal micro electrochemical supercapacitor, featuring the monolayer graphene as a working electrode, to reveal the ceiling of electrochemical capacitance characteristic frequency. To address this limitation, we introduce a Hybrid Electrochemical Electrolytic Capacitor design, which asymmetrically coupling the electrochemical and dielectric effects. At low frequencies, the electrochemical segment provides sufficient capacity, while its electrolytic segment takes over at high frequencies, broadening the frequency range. Consequently, the hybrid design boasts considerable capacitance density across a broad frequency range. Employing our wafer-scale microfabrication techniques, we showcase a device, achieving a characteristic frequency of 44 kHz and a volume capacitance density of 800 $${{\rm{\mu }}}{{\rm{F}}}/{{{\rm{cm}}}}^{3}$$ μ F / cm 3 . To demonstrate its practicality in microsystems, the device is integrated with a power management chip and buck circuit module, respectively, with only 2 % space usage compared to commercial electrolytic capacitor, achieving the same performance.
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spelling doaj-art-e002521b35d44a5f944eecc42d15e2462025-08-20T03:18:53ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-59015-7High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effectsZhangshanhao Li0Minghao Xu1Yier Xia2Ziyun Yan3Jianyou Dai4Bingmeng Hu5Haizhao Feng6Sixing Xu7Xiaohong Wang8School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversityCollege of Semiconductors (College of Integrated Circuits), Hunan UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversityCollege of Semiconductors (College of Integrated Circuits), Hunan UniversitySchool of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract The prosperity of microelectronics has intensified the requirement for miniaturized power systems using capacitors with high capacity and broad frequency ranges. Electrochemical supercapacitors stand out with their superior capacitance density, surpassing traditional electrolytic capacitors by at least two orders of magnitude. However, the intrinsic slow ion dynamics of electrical double layer effects greatly limit supercapacitors characteristic frequency, constraining their applicability in microsystems. This work constructs a near-ideal micro electrochemical supercapacitor, featuring the monolayer graphene as a working electrode, to reveal the ceiling of electrochemical capacitance characteristic frequency. To address this limitation, we introduce a Hybrid Electrochemical Electrolytic Capacitor design, which asymmetrically coupling the electrochemical and dielectric effects. At low frequencies, the electrochemical segment provides sufficient capacity, while its electrolytic segment takes over at high frequencies, broadening the frequency range. Consequently, the hybrid design boasts considerable capacitance density across a broad frequency range. Employing our wafer-scale microfabrication techniques, we showcase a device, achieving a characteristic frequency of 44 kHz and a volume capacitance density of 800 $${{\rm{\mu }}}{{\rm{F}}}/{{{\rm{cm}}}}^{3}$$ μ F / cm 3 . To demonstrate its practicality in microsystems, the device is integrated with a power management chip and buck circuit module, respectively, with only 2 % space usage compared to commercial electrolytic capacitor, achieving the same performance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59015-7
spellingShingle Zhangshanhao Li
Minghao Xu
Yier Xia
Ziyun Yan
Jianyou Dai
Bingmeng Hu
Haizhao Feng
Sixing Xu
Xiaohong Wang
High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
Nature Communications
title High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
title_full High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
title_fullStr High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
title_full_unstemmed High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
title_short High-frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
title_sort high frequency supercapacitors surpassing dynamic limit of electrical double layer effects
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59015-7
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