Simulation Guided Design of a Hybrid Battery-Type Supercapacitor: A Case Study on MnO2@RVC//AC

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental understanding of physical and electrochemical mechanisms in hybrid supercapacitors will help improve their energy/power densities. This work explores a simulation-guided design for the fabrication of a high-performance hybrid supercapacitor rendered using optimized COMSOL simulation parameters acquired from Newman’s porous electrode theory. The comprehensive virtual simulations fostered a superior battery-type hybrid electrode with MnO2 nanoclusters formulated over reticulated vitreous carbon. The electrochemical phenomena in the hybrid capacitor were examined using three variables, namely the pore sizes, thicknesses of the positive electrode and the weight ratio of the active material on the negative electrode. The controllable design parameters were identified using numerical simulations and matched with experiments cost-effectively. Thus, the simulations facilitated the experimental fabrication of a superior hybrid battery-type electrode, and charge balancing on the electrodes helped to maximize the energy and power densities. These experimentally validated simulations give new insight that can aid the development of similar hybrid capacitor systems.