The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has developed a high-voltage supercapacitor capable of operating at a record 3.4 volts, marking a major advancement in next-generation energy storage technologies.
The innovation is based on a dual-functional porous graphene carbon nanocomposite (PGCN) electrode, which significantly enhances energy density, electrochemical efficiency, and long-term operational stability. The development is expected to strengthen energy storage performance across electric mobility, renewable energy integration, grid-scale storage, and portable electronics.
Conventional supercapacitors typically operate within a voltage window of 2.5–3.0 V due to electrolyte instability, thermal degradation, and safety risks such as flammability. ARCI’s newly engineered PGCN electrode overcomes these constraints through advanced surface chemistry that combines water-repellent characteristics with high organic electrolyte compatibility. This enables rapid electrolyte infiltration into the porous carbon framework, resulting in faster ion transport, improved electrochemical kinetics, and enhanced device stability.
According to ARCI, the newly developed supercapacitor delivers 33% higher energy density than conventional carbon-based devices and achieves a power density of up to 17,000 W/kg. The device also demonstrates exceptional cycling performance, retaining 96% of its capacity after 15,000 charge–discharge cycles, highlighting its suitability for high-demand energy storage applications.
The PGCN electrodes were fabricated using an environmentally sustainable hydrothermal carbonization process, employing 1,2-propanediol as a precursor. The synthesis, carried out at 300°C for 25 hours in a sealed environment, eliminates hazardous chemicals and external gases, reduces environmental impact, and achieves material yields exceeding 20%. The scalable manufacturing route makes the technology suitable for industrial-scale production.
The electrode’s engineered micro- and mesoporous structure enhances ion diffusion and energy storage capacity, while precise control of synthesis parameters ensures consistent material performance. Compared with commercial activated carbon electrodes such as YP-50F, the PGCN electrode delivers simultaneous improvements in operating voltage and power density.
By enabling higher voltage operation, the technology reduces the need for stacking multiple low-voltage cells, thereby simplifying system design, reducing complexity, and improving overall energy efficiency. This advancement is expected to enhance electric vehicle driving range and acceleration, improve renewable energy integration, and strengthen grid balancing and frequency regulation capabilities.
The development aligns with India’s clean energy transition objectives and the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, reinforcing domestic capabilities in advanced energy storage research and manufacturing. The findings have been published in the Chemical Engineering Journal (Elsevier) and were supported by the Department of Science and Technology under its Technical Research Centre (TRC) initiative.
