Solid asymmetric electrochemical capacitors using proton-conducting polymer electrolytes

Solid asymmetric electrochemical capacitors (EC) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–heteropoly acid (HPA) electrolytes and RuO₂–graphite electrodes were developed. The devices were about 0.2 mm thick and had a working voltage window of 0–1.5 V, 50% wider than that of any proton-conducting symmetric EC. Pseudocapacitance from HPA contributes to the total capacitance of the asymmetric EC within a certain potential window. The PVA–HPA polymers have been proven to function both as electrolyte and as pseudocapacitive electrode material in EC cells.