Graphene-based supercapacitor electrodes: Addressing challenges in mechanisms and materials

Electric double layer supercapacitors are a class of energy storage device whose strengths are long lifespan and high power handling. They have a niche to fill in the gradual transition to fully-electric transport systems, and are expected to have future applications in textile-based energy storage and flexible electronics. Relatively new electrode materials, based on graphene, offer an opportunity for improvement over the existing commercial standard of activated carbon, however challenges still lay ahead to bring more of these materials to market. In this review we discuss the scientific challenges in the development of novel electric double-layer supercapacitor electrodes, and present some recent highlights