Canoe: Biobased Carbon Fibers for Supercapacitor Electrode Materials

As part of the EMPHASIS project, novel cellulose-based carbon fiber precursors have been developed by Canoe. These biobased fibers are used to manufacture activated carbons (AC), the key component of supercapacitor (SC) electrodes.

Supercapacitors are energy storage systems with high power density, ideal for fast-charging and high-power applications like braking energy recovery, engine start-and-stop systems, and flashlights. Often paired with conventional batteries, SCs create a powerful and energy-efficient system. Conventional ACs, typically spherical particles 5-10 µm in diameter, offer high specific surface area (SSA) and good electrical conductivity, essential for storing and releasing electrical charges.

In this project, fibers spun by Canoe are converted into activated carbon fibers (ACF) by Wood K Plus in Linz, Austria. These ACFs are designed to replace traditional spherical AC particles, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative.

Read more about this exciting development here.