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The Electrical Double Layer

The Electrical Double Layer

In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...

Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor

Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor

The presence of a dielectric medium in a capacitor not only changes the voltage and capacitance but also affects the electric field. In general, dielectrics can be of two types: polar and nonpolar. In a polar dielectric, the positive and negative charges in the molecules are separated by a distance and hence have a permanent dipole moment. In contrast, no such charge separation exists in a nonpolar dielectric, however the nonpolar molecules get polarized in the presence of an external electric...

Capacitor With A Dielectric

Capacitor With A Dielectric

Parallel plate capacitors consist of two conducting plates separated by a certain distance. However, it is mechanically difficult to hold the large plates parallel to each other without actual contact. Hence, a dielectric layer is commonly placed between the plates, which provides an easy solution for holding the plates together with a small gap and increases the capacitance of the capacitor.
Dielectrics are non-conducting materials with no free or loosely bound electrons. When a dielectric is...

Capacitor in an AC Circuit

Capacitor in an AC Circuit

A capacitor is charged by passing an electric current through it, which causes the plates to start accumulating an electrostatic charge. Since the strength of the charging current is maximum when the capacitor plates are uncharged and gradually decreases exponentially until the capacitor is fully charged, the charging process is neither instantaneous nor linear. The property of a capacitor to store a charge on its plates is called its capacitance.
Consider a purely capacitive circuit consisting...

Capacitors and Capacitance

Capacitors and Capacitance

A device consisting of two electrical conductors that are separated by a distance and used to store electrical charges is called a capacitor. The space between the conductors is either a vacuum or an insulating material, called a dielectric. Capacitors have many applications, ranging from filtering static from radio reception to energy storage in heart defibrillators.
When the conductors are two identical parallel plates, it is called a parallel plate capacitor. When battery terminals are...

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

When an archer pulls the string in a bow, he saves the work done in the form of elastic potential energy. When he releases the string, the potential energy is released as kinetic energy of the arrow. A capacitor works on the same principle in which the work done is saved as electric potential energy. The potential energy (UC) could be calculated by measuring the work done (W) to charge the capacitor.

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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Evaluating the Electrochemical Properties of Supercapacitors using the Three-Electrode System

Evaluating the Electrochemical Properties of Supercapacitors using the Three-Electrode System

Published on: January 7, 2022

"Thermal Charging" Phenomenon in Electrical Double Layer Capacitors.

Jianjian Wang¹, Shien-Ping Feng^1,2, Yuan Yang¹

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.

|August 4, 2015

Summary

Electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) can be charged by heating, generating usable voltage for devices like LEDs. This thermal charging phenomenon offers a novel energy storage method.

Keywords:

Supercapacitor chemical adsorption/desorption electrical double layer surface functional group surface redox reaction “thermal charging”

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Evaluating the Electrochemical Properties of Supercapacitors using the Three-Electrode System

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Area of Science:

Electrochemistry
Materials Science
Energy Storage

Background:

Electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) are typically charged via applied potential differences.
Conventional charging methods rely on external electrical sources.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate and investigate the novel concept of charging EDLCs through heating.
To explore the underlying thermo-electrochemical mechanisms responsible for thermal charging.

Main Methods:

Heating supercapacitors to specific temperatures (e.g., 65 °C).
Measuring open circuit voltage generated during thermal charging.
Investigating the storage of thermally generated charge at room temperature.
Analyzing the effects of charging time, activation voltage, and rate on performance.

Main Results:

Observed open circuit voltages ranging from 80-300 mV upon heating.
Demonstrated successful storage of thermally generated charge.
Showcased the ability to power LEDs using series-connected "thermally charged" supercapacitors.
Identified enhanced Faradaic kinetics at higher temperatures as a key factor.

Conclusions:

Heating EDLCs is a viable method for generating and storing electrical energy.
Thermo-electrochemical processes, including enhanced surface reactions, drive thermal charging.
This research opens new avenues for alternative energy harvesting and storage in capacitors.