Supercapacitors deliver high capacitance and energy density

Update: July 8, 2021

AVX Corp. has launched a new series standard and custom supercapacitors designed for size, weight, and power (SWaP)-optimized, battery-powered products. The company claims the SCP Series PrizmaCap supercapacitors offer the widest operating temperature range (-55°C to 90°C),  compared to competitive technology as well as the highest capacitance (3.5–15 F) and energy density (1.14–2.43 Wh/kg) compared to any small form factor (SFF), prismatic, electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) rated for more than 1 F, currently available on the market.

In addition, the supercapacitors are housed in an extremely lightweight (<2 g) and low-profile form factor (0.8–2 mm) based on propylene carbonate electrolyte technology, which has been proven to be safe in energy storage applications including lithium-ion batteries, said AVX.

The SCP Series PrizmaCap supercapacitors can be used alone or in conjunction with primary or secondary batteries to extend backup time, improve battery life, and provide instantaneous power pulses in energy storage, energy and power holdup, pulse power handling, and battery assist applications in a range of consumer, commercial, and industrial electronics. Target applications include wearable and handheld devices, industrial equipment, wireless keyboards, power peripherals, tablets, and e-readers.

The supercaps are available in three standard form factors with a 48 x 45-mm footprint, three ultra-low-height profiles (0.8 mm, 1.3 mm, or 2.0 mm), and two fixed-position, surface-mount terminals compatible with hand soldering or AVX Interconnect’s 70-9159 Series STRIPT two-piece, single contacts.

The  three standard solutions (SCPB08A355SNA, SCPB13A855SNA, and SCPB20A156SNA) are rated for up to 15 F, 2.1-V electrical potential from -55°C to 65°C, 8.63-A peak current, and 2.43 Wh/kg energy density. The devices claim the widest operating temperature range with appropriate derating to 1.1 V. Other specs include a maximum DCL as low as 50 μA after 72 hours of operation, a maximum ESR as low as 30 mΩ at 1 kHz and 55 mΩ at DC, and up to 2,582 W/kg power density and 0.0092 Wh maximum energy. Additional off-the-shelf solutions with standard footprints and capacitance values will be released as they are qualified.

Custom SCP Series PrizmaCap supercapacitors are available with customer-specified footprints and capacitance values ranging from 1–500 F.

The SCP Series PrizmaCap supercapacitors are RoHS- and REACH-compliant, lead-free compatible. They are tested for life cycle, high-temperature load life, temperature characteristics, vibration resistance, and humidity characteristics prior to being packaged and shipped in trays. Standard lead time for the series is currently 16 weeks.

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