Lab Report 5

Session: 2019-2023

Submitted to:
Dr. Hafiz Kabeer Raza Chiste
Submitted by:
Tasawar Hussain 19MME-S2-315
Faqeeh UL Islam 19MME-S2-329
Arslan 19MME-S2-316

Subject:
Material Characterization (Lab)

Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering

University of the Punjab Lahore
Experiment NO 5:
To explore the charge storage mechanism of the Super
capacitor's electrode and perform electrochemical characterisation on it.
Objective:
This experiment was conducted to analyse the super capacitor's electrode and
ascertain the electrochemical characteristics of its charge storage system.

Principle:
The basic idea behind how super capacitors function is that at the interface
between the electrolyte and the bath solution, they can store electrical energy by producing an
electric double-layer capacitance.

Theory:
A super capacitor (SC), also known as an ultra capacitor or an electric double layer
capacitor, is a high-capacity electrochemical capacitor with capacitance values much higher
than those of typical capacitors (EDLC). Little surface area electrodes and very thick
dielectric can create less capacitance than large surface area electrodes and extremely thin
dielectric. Super capacitors operate similarly to normal capacitors. The charge separation
occurs over a relatively small distance, i.e. between the electrolyte and an electrode, allowing
the extra charge to be stored by the many pores inside the high surface area of the electrodes.
This allows the super capacitors to store more charge. The core elements of a super capacitor
are an electrolyte, a separator, and two electrodes.

Figure 1: Super Capacitor Mechanism

Application of Super Capacitor in practical life:

Currently, small super capacitors like
gold caps from Tokin are extensively used in ICs (Microcomputers and memory) as
maintenance-free power sources. Among the recently proposed uses for large size super
capacitors are engine starting, load levelling in electric and hybrid vehicles as well as in the
traction domain, applications in telecommunication, and power quality and reliability
specifications for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) installations.

Apparatus and material Required:

 Super Capacitor Sample (99% Porous)
 Beaker
 3M KOH Solution
 Weighing Balance
 Three Electrode Assembly Set up

Discussion:

0.05
CV
0.04

0.03
Current (mA)

0.02

0.01

0.00

-0.01

-0.02

-0.03

-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Potential (V)

Graph 1: CURVE3 (MC Lab S1 group 2 SC sample in 3 M KOH (-0.1-0.4 V) 10 mvs CV.DTA)
 0.06

CV
0.04
Current (mA)

0.02

0.00

-0.02

-0.04
-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Potential (V)

Graph 2: CURVE5 (MC Lab S1 group 2 SC sample in 3 M KOH (-0.1-0.4 V) 50 mvs CV.DTA

0.06
CV

0.04
Current (mA)

0.02

0.00

-0.02

-0.04
-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Potential (V)

Graph 3: CURVE4 (MC Lab S1 group 2 SC sample in 3 M KOH (-0.1-0.4 V) 100 mvs CV.DTA)
 0.08

CV
0.06

0.04
Current (mA)

0.02

0.00

-0.02

-0.04

-0.06
-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Potential (V)

Graph 4: CURVE5 (MC Lab S1 group 2 SC sample in 3 M KOH (-0.1-0.4 V) 300 mvs CV.DTA)

0.08

0.06 CV

0.04
Current (mA)

0.02

0.00

-0.02

-0.04

-0.06

-0.08
-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Potential (V)

Graph 5: CURVE5 (MC Lab S1 group 2 SC sample in 3 M KOH (-0.1-0.4 V) 500 mvs CV.DTA)
 0.08
10mvs 50mvs 100mvs 300mvs 500mvs
0.06

0.04
Current (mA)

0.02

0.00

-0.02

-0.04

-0.06

-0.08
-0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Potential (V)

Graph 6: compare all scan rate

Scan Mass of Potential Specific

Area
Rate Sample Window Capacitance
0.00780682 0.01 0.03 0.5 26.0227326
0.009893053 0.05 0.03 0.5 6.595368668
0.009746734 0.1 0.03 0.5 3.248911452
0.010353088 0.3 0.03 0.5 1.150343157
0.010359176 0.5 0.03 0.5 0.690611703