Electrode Assemblies/Separators are designed for EDLCs.
Press Release Summary:
EXCELLERATOR® electrode assemblies and separators for Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs) provide strength and dimensional stability and allow for high carbon loading. Bound directly to current collector, electrodes are available in various thicknesses, densities, and shapes in single- or double-sided electrode assemblies. EXCELLERATOR® Separators are chemically resistant to electrolytes and offer porous structures for high ionic conductivity.
Original Press Release:
Gore Introduces Next Generation EDLC Components
Improved Energy Density, Power Delivery and High Volume Manufacturing Throughput Will Enable Emerging Applications
ELKTON, MD, USA. July 23, 2002 - The Battery and Capacitor Technologies Group of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. announces the commercial availability of next generation GORE EXCELLERATOR® Electrode Assemblies and Separators for Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors (EDLC).
GORE's new EDLC components are engineered to provide the capacitor industry with significant improvements in energy density, power delivery and high volume manufacturing throughput.
EDLC components have been commercially available from GORE since the 1980s. The company's affiliate, Japan Gore-Tex Inc., was one of the first advanced materials suppliers to partner with device manufacturers creating the memory backup "button" cells found in cell phones, PDAs, computers and household appliances. Billions of these cells have been produced, using GORE EXCELLERATOR® EDLC Components.
As a leading innovator and manufacturer in the memory back-up business, GORE is working with the world's leading EDLC manufacturers to develop products with greater energy - and cost - efficiencies. Recent applications include the new large can EDLC technologies found in regenerative braking systems for the transportation industry, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
The new EDLC components are part of an increasing number of breakthrough GORE technologies designed for energy production and storage, including membrane electrode assemblies for PEM fuel cell applications. GORE has made significant investments in research and development, materials understanding and high-volume manufacturing capacity to satisfy the needs of the market. According to Robert Sassa, product specialist, "Key customers rely upon GORE to supply and continuously improve our components for emerging applications. With more than 25 years' experience in developing high performance electrochemical applications, we know how to help companies streamline their processes - saving time, preventing waste and giving them the ability to keep up with the demands of high-speed manufacturing."
GORE EXCELLERATOR® Electrodes and Electrode Assemblies
Utilizing GORE's fundamental expertise in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), EXCELLERATOR® Electrodes and Electrode Assemblies provide the strength and dimensional stability needed for high-throughput manufacturing. The unique structure of GORE's PTFE allows for high carbon loading, which translates into greater energy densities, often 50 - 100% greater than competitive electrode technologies. This enables device manufacturers to reduce material costs and improve space efficiencies.
EXCELLERATOR® Electrodes are available in a wide range of thickness, densities and shapes, customized to meet a customer's specific EDLC architectures. They are also available from GORE in single- or double-sided electrode assemblies, bound directly to a current collector for simplified assembly.
GORE EXCELLERATOR® Separators
Due to the inert properties of PTFE, GORE EXCELLERATOR® Separators are chemically resistant to most electrolytes for durability and long life. These membranes are thin, yet strong, making them ideal for high-speed, high-volume EDLC manufacturing. They occupy less space, so the EDLC can achieve the highest energy density and maximum power delivery within the smallest footprint. Uniformity, tortuosity and high filtration efficiency prevent electrode particle penetration, reducing shorts and manufacturing rejects. The highly porous structure provides for high ionic conductivity, resulting in low equivalent series resistance, faster response and lower time constants. Stable in a wide range of temperatures (-250° to +260°C), GORE EXCELLERATOR® Separators are ideal for a broad range of operating conditions.
About EDLCs
An Electochemical Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC), also called a super-capacitor, is an energy storage device. Unlike conventional batteries, which produce energy through an electrochemical reaction, EDLCs produce energy through a physical phenomenon, whereby energy is captured, stored and released through the adsorption and desorption of ions, occurring at the interface of an electrode and electrolyte. Charging and discharging take place at extremely high rates, making energy efficiency of the device very high, often above 95%. (A battery typically captures far less.) EDLCs have market value in applications where there is energy to be captured through repetitive motions and where the energy storage system demands an extended reliable lifetime.
About Gore
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for high-volume, cost-sensitive markets, such as automotive, energy, electronics and industrial filtration. With world-renowned expertise in the application and use of fluoropolymers, especially PTFE and ePTFE, GORE has produced thousands of life-changing products over the course of its 40 year history. Posting annual sales exceeding $1 billion, Gore operates more than 45 facilities and employs more than 6,000 associates worldwide with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. For more information, visit: www.gore.com/excellerator or contact:
Gore Battery & Capacitor Technologies
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Tel: 410-506-8813
401 Airport Road
Elkton, MD 21922 USA
Tel: 410-506-8813
Fax: 410-506-8749
E-mail: excellerator@wlgore.com
