What is the Difference Between Capacitors and Supercapacitors?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Capacitors and supercapacitors are both passive circuit components that store electrical energy. However, there are several differences between them:
- Capacitance: Capacitors have low capacitance values, while supercapacitors have high capacitance values and low voltage ratings.
- Electrode Material: Conventional capacitors have electrodes made of metallic conductors, whereas supercapacitors have electrodes coated with activated carbon.
- Energy Storage: Capacitors store electrical energy solely electrostatically, while supercapacitors store energy either electrostatically or electrochemically, or through a hybrid method.
- Dielectric Material: Capacitors use dielectric materials like ceramic, polymer films, or aluminum oxide to separate the electrodes, while supercapacitors use a separator, which is an ion-permeable membrane that provides insulation and ion exchange.
- Charge/Discharge Efficiency: Supercapacitors have charge/discharge efficiencies greater than 0.95, compared to 0.85-0.98 for conventional capacitors.
- Operating Temperature: Supercapacitors can operate in temperatures ranging from -40 to 65°C (-40 to 149°F), while conventional capacitors typically have an operating temperature range of -20 to 65°C (-4 to 149°F).
- Energy Density: Conventional capacitors have comparatively low energy density, while supercapacitors have much higher energy density.
- Specific Power: Supercapacitors have specific power ratings of up to 10,000 Wh/kg, while conventional capacitors have ratings of up to 100,000 Wh/kg.
- Cost: Capacitors are generally less expensive than supercapacitors.
- Applications: Supercapacitors are often used in devices that require high power and energy, such as hybrid vehicles, while conventional capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Capacitors and Supercapacitors? Comparative Table: Capacitors vs Supercapacitors
Comparative Table: Capacitors vs Supercapacitors
Here is a table comparing the differences between capacitors and supercapacitors:
Capacitors | Supercapacitors |
---|---|
Store energy in the form of an electrostatic field | Store energy in the form of an electrostatic field, but with much higher capacity |
Low energy density | Very high energy density |
Fast charge/discharge times | Faster charge/discharge times than capacitors |
Charge/discharge efficiency: 0.85–0.98 | Charge/discharge efficiency: >0.95 |
Operating temperature: -40 to 65 °C (-40 to 149°F) | Operating temperature: -20 to 65 °C (-4 to 149°F) |
Energy: <0.1 Wh/kg | Energy: 1-10 Wh/kg |
Energy density: Low | Energy density: Very high |
Specific power: Up to 100,000 Wh/kg | Specific power: Up to 10,000 Wh/kg |
Cost: Low | Cost: High |
Capacitors and supercapacitors are both passive components that store charge in the form of an electrostatic field. However, supercapacitors have a much higher energy density and faster charge/discharge times compared to capacitors. Supercapacitors are considered between capacitors and batteries because they can deliver charge much faster than a battery and store charge more than a conventional capacitor.
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