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Development of next-generation supercapacitors through high-performance nanocomposite electrodes

JSHS · 2025

Anusha Agarwal, Dr. Ethan C. Ahn · Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Overview

Supercapacitors, energy storage devices which combine the high storage capabilities of batteries with the ultrafast charge/discharge abilities of capacitors, play a pivotal role in energy systems. Due to this unique combination, supercapacitors will revolu tionize electric systems through renewable energy grid stabilization, power backups for IoT sensors and communications, ultrafast charging for portable electronics, and even powering electric transportation during braking/acceleration. However, supercapacitors are currently outcompeted by batteries in terms of energy density, preventing widespread usage. Therefore, the present study investigates the use of aluminum-graphene covetics as the electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. This material, created by infusing laser-induced graphene (LIG) with aluminum nanoparticles, boasts a high surface area and extremely low resistance, optimal for electrochemical applications. Various material characteristics such as aluminum percentage and graphene structure were optimized during covetic synthesis to deliver ideal performance. Electrical characterization of the supercapacitor devices revealed the sheet resistance of the aluminum -graphene covetic sample as 2.44e-8 Ω/sq, almost a 100% decrease from the 32.9 Ω/s q sheet resistance of the pure LIG control sample. The ID/IG ratio of 1.34 from the Raman characterization revealed the defect -rich nature of the covetic material, and the I2D/IG ratio of 0.14 confirms the covetic material consists of multiple layers of graphene. The performance of the covetics showed a statistically significant reduction in resistance while retaining a highly porous structure, making them ideal for supercapacitor electrodes. These advancements pave the way for the next generation of supercapacitors, creating new possibilities for sustainable innovation.

Competition history

  • JSHS 2025 Category not listed

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Source: Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

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