CODE OF PROJECT: PID2020-116612RB

Electrochemical energy storage constitutes one of the cornerstones for the large-scale implementation of renewable energy, smart energy distribution grids, efficient electric transport, as well as mobile and autonomous devices. In addition to batteries, electrochemical capacitors, also known as supercapacitors (SCs), are at the centre of a great scientific and technological effort worldwide pursuing the storage of large amounts of energy at an affordable cost. In particular, SCs are characterized by having a charge-discharge power, in addition to chemical stability and durability against cycling, significantly greater than batteries. However, they have much less energy storage capacity than batteries. Therefore, much of the research is focused on increasing the specific energy density of SCs while maintaining their power density and lifetime.

ESTORE is a Spanish National R+D project that aims to provide innovations in this field through the development of advanced nanocarbon hybrid electrodes by the combination of techniques based on plasma, laser processing and microfluidics. These techniques, which are easily scalable to the industrial sector, will allow to manufacture electrodes with a large specific area composed of nanocarbon (graphene nanowalls –GNW-, laser-induced graphene –LIG-, reduced graphene oxide –rGO-, vertically aligned carbon nanotubes –VACNT-) coated with pseudocapacitive nanostructures that, through surface electrochemical processes, give rise to a large increase in specific energy without compromising power and electrochemical stability.