LOS ANGELES – Researchers at UCLA and Stanford have developed an economical method for manufacturing flexible supercapacitors that exhibit power and energy density higher than commercially available devices.

The researchers developed a method of spray printing single-walled carbon nanotubes on two flexible plastic films, putting a gel electrolyte between them. The gel electrolyte is a mix of powdered polyvinyl alcohol, phosphoric acid and water.

The surface of the nanotubes collects charges, storing energy. The supercapacitor has a reported power density of 70 kw/kg.

It has the possibility of improving its energy density, which could lead to supercapacitors replacing batteries.

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