High-performance carbon-based supercapacitors

Carbon-based supercapacitors (SCs) have emerged as promising candidates for high-power, fast-charging energy storage, bridging the performance gap between traditional capacitors and batteries. This perspective explores the current landscape and future direction of carbon-based electric double-layer capacitors, focusing on activated carbon, graphene, and their derivatives. We highlight key performance-limiting factors in real-world devices including electrode composition, electrolyte selection, and device form factor. Special attention is given to sustainable materials sourcing, low-temperature and high-temperature operation, and the transition toward greener electrode processing. While curved graphene has already demonstrated successful scalability from lab to commercial device formats, other promising advanced materials, e.g. nitrogen doping graphene and graphdyine, are still in the early stages of this transition. Although these materials offer outstanding performance at the fundamental level, integrating them into practical, scalable SC architectures continues to pose significant challenges. A systems-level optimization, encompassing electrodes’ architecture, manufacturing compatibility, and novel electrolytes, is crucial to unlock the full potential of SCs. By integrating material innovation with scalable engineering, carbon-based SCs can meet the growing energy demands of modern applications, from portable electronics to aerospace and grid storage.