Lithium-Ion Capacitor Technologies and Performance

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) occupy a strategic niche between conventional lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical double-layer capacitors by combining faradaic and non-faradaic charge storage. In a typical LIC, a fast-adsorbing carbon-based cathode interfaces with a pre-lithiated insertion-type anode, enabling both high power density (up to tens of kW kg⁻¹) and elevated energy density (exceeding 100 Wh kg⁻¹ in optimised systems). Key challenges include kinetic imbalance between cathode ion adsorption and anode intercalation, electrode mass-ratio matching and long-term cycle stability. Recent strategies have focused on hierarchical pore engineering, heteroatom doping and advanced nanocomposite architectures to accelerate ion and electron transport. Device-level innovations, such as new prelithiation techniques and precise mass balancing, have demonstrated extended cycle life (over 35 000 cycles) and superior rate capability. LICs are being tailored for grid stabilisation, regenerative braking and flexible electronics, reflecting their global significance in bridging intermittent renewable generation and rapid-response energy demands. Continuous materials discovery and device design are paving the way towards scalable, high-performance hybrid capacitors for the next generation of energy-storage solutions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Researchers have demonstrated that mesoporous carbons derived from coconut shells can deliver an energy density of approximately 69 Wh kg⁻¹ alongside exceptional cycle life, thanks to tailored hydrothermal and chemical activation routes yielding ~60 percent mesoporosity. In another system, a nanostructured Sn–C anode paired with biomass-derived microporous activated carbon cathode achieved up to 196 Wh kg⁻¹ at moderate power densities, while retaining over 84 Wh kg⁻¹ at ultrahigh rates through synergistic control of nanoparticle confinement and carbon framework doping. More recent work has introduced a dual-carbon design employing polymer-derived hollow carbon spheres as the negative electrode and superactivated carbon as the positive. Rigorous mass balancing at a 2:1 negative-to-positive ratio delivered around 68 Wh kg⁻¹ at 30 kW kg⁻¹ and maintained over 92 percent capacity after 35 000 cycles, underscoring the importance of microstructure and electrode matching in achieving both high energy and power.

Lithium-Ion Capacitor Technologies and Performance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in lithium-ion capacitor technologies and performance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Faradaic reaction: Charge storage process involving reversible redox (insertion or conversion) reactions at the electrode surface.

Double-layer capacitance: Non-faradaic charge accumulation at the electrode–electrolyte interface, forming an electric double layer.

Prelithiation: Introduction of lithium ions into the anode material prior to full cell assembly to compensate initial irreversible capacity loss.

Mesoporosity: Presence of pores with diameters between 2 nm and 50 nm, balancing surface area and ion transport pathways.

Energy density: Amount of energy stored per unit mass (Wh kg⁻¹), reflecting how long a device can operate.

Power density: Rate at which energy can be delivered per unit mass (W kg⁻¹), indicating how quickly a device can respond.

Mass balancing: Optimisation of electrode mass ratios to harmonise charge capacity and kinetics between cathode and anode.

References

1. Activated carbons derived from coconut shells as high energy density cathode material for Li-ion capacitors. Scientific Reports (2013).
2. A high performance lithium ion capacitor achieved by the integration of a Sn-C anode and a biomass-derived microporous activated carbon cathode. Scientific Reports (2017).
3. Fabrication of high-performance dual carbon Li-ion hybrid capacitor: mass balancing approach to improve the energy-power density and cycle life. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Construction of the hierarchical porous biochar with an ultrahigh specific surface area for application in high-performance lithium-ion capacitor cathode. Biochar (2023).
5. Lithium-Ion Capacitors: A Review of Design and Active Materials. Energies (2021).
6. Nitrogen-enriched graphene framework from a large-scale magnesiothermic conversion of CO2 with synergistic kinetics for high-power lithium-ion capacitors. NPG Asia Materials (2021).