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TRIMIS

Planar CAPacitors for high temperature and mid-frequency operation

Project

P.CAP - Planar CAPacitors for high temperature and mid-frequency operation


Funding origin:
European
European Union
STRIA Roadmaps:
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Vehicle design and manufacturing
Transport mode:
Road
Road
Transport sectors:
Passenger transport
Passenger transport
Freight transport
Freight transport
Duration:
Start date: 01/10/2022,
End date: 30/09/2025

Status: Finished
Funding details:
Total cost:
€2 468 750
EU Contribution:
€2 468 750

Overview

Background & policy context:

Capacitors are ubiquitous in any electronic device, with aluminium and tantalum electrolytic capacitors used whenever larger capacitances are required. However, they suffer from reliability issues, especially when operating at high temperatures: a temperature increase of 10 ºC halves their life. In the case of tantalum there is an additional concern: it is considered a critical raw material that generates environmental and societal concerns and it has been gaining a lot of attention from capacitor manufacturers in the search for an alternative technology solution. P.CAP project brings an alternative to aluminium and tantalum electrolytic capacitors: planar electric double layer capacitors (P.EDLCs) with enhanced performance at mid frequencies and high temperature. EDLCs are energy storage devices with a much larger DC capacitance than capacitors and excellent cyclability, but current technology behave as resistors at frequencies greater than 1 Hz. Under the right conditions, we have proven that they can operate at higher frequencies (1-200 Hz) while maintaining the merits of EDLCs: large capacitance and extended lifetime. Moreover, when thermally stable ionic liquids are used as electrolyte, they can operate at temperatures above 200 ºC. In the P.CAP project, a TRL7 prototype bipolar capacitor that can operate at >250 ºC, with an operating life of more than 1000 h at this temperature and a rated voltage above 40 V, will be manufactured. This prototype will be used as a minimum viable product to validate the device in applications where reliability and high-temperature are required, such as mining and electric vehicles.

Objectives:

Electronic devices such as phones or computers depend on capacitors to store electrical energy. However, they become less reliable at increasing temperatures and are often made from hard-to-source elements like tantalum.The EU-funded P.CAP project aims to solve this by developing a new planar electric double layer capacitor which offers better performance at high temperatures and a longer lifetime. Using novel materials, the C2C-NewCap team will produce a capacitor that can operate at over 250 ºC, with an operating life greater than 1 000 hours. They will then test this prototype in high-temperature situations, such as mining and under the hood of electric vehicles. The goal is to provide capacitors free of conflict minerals which can eventually be used in all electronic equipment.

The main project goal is to reach a pre-commercial stage with a clear roadmap for upscaling production and start pilot testing during the project. Our long term vision is to further miniaturise the technology and provide a tantalum-free solution for smartphones, tablets and printed circuit boards used in all electronic equipment.

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