Supercapacitors might become an ultra-thin and sustainable alternative to batteries

According to Energyload, supercapacitors offer advantages that make them an attractive alternative for modern portable devices. Pouch supercaps are ultra-thin, maintenance-free, and non-toxic. Their long lifespan and recyclability can improve the sustainability of smart devices and IoT applications.

Issues with conventional batteries

The growing number of devices increases the environmental impact of battery waste. According to the European Commission, 244,000 tons of portable batteries were sold in the EU in 2022, but only 111,000 tons were actually recycled. Batteries contain toxic substances like lithium, manganese, and cobalt, which are environmentally problematic. Replacing batteries in industrial settings is expensive and requires qualified personnel, which often leads to costs of $200 per unit.

Innovative pouch supercaps

Until now, cylindrical supercapacitors were bulky and limited by their design. On the other hand, pouch supercaps sport ultra-thin designs, full recyclability and no-toxic materials. They are suitable for space-critical applications such as smart cards, electronic shelf labels or wireless devices and can be combined with energy harvesting systems and solar cells, for instance.

Ligna Energy as a pioneer

Companies like Ligna Energy have developed pouch supercap products that last over 250,000 charging cycles. Sustainable materials and a scalable roll-to-roll production process significantly reduce the CO2 footprint. Engineers can build durable, ultra-thin devices that are more eco-friendly.

Supercapacitors as a sustainable battery alternative

Overall, supercapacitors could turn into a maintenance-free alternative to conventional batteries. Their cycle stability, environmental friendliness and design flexibility could make them ideal for the next generation of smart devices.