CAP-XX supercapacitors boost power delivery in mobile devices while extending battery life. (Photo: Business Wire)

September 13, 2007 — CAP-XX Limited, producer of ultra-thin supercapacitors that boost power delivery in mobile devices to enable new functionality and extend battery life, has expanded its product line with high-temperature models. CAP-XX’s HS and HW supercapacitors feature a higher-boiling-point electrolyte that extends operating and storage temperature from 75°C to an industry-leading 85°C, and operating voltage (V) from 4.5V to 5.5V.

CAP-XX supercapacitors benefit from nanotechnology construction that stores charge on nanoporous carbon electrodes on aluminum foil, arranged in multiple layers and connected in parallel to minimize the resistance and maximize the capacitance of the device. Supercapacitors deliver 100x the power of batteries and store 10,000x more energy than conventional capacitors. They store electrical energy during periods of low-load power, and then release it in quick “bursts” during peak-power events, supplementing power from the source and smoothing out voltage fluctuations.

CAP-XX’s HS and HW supercapacitors promise reliable operation in devices where nearby components can get very hot, such as RF power amplifiers, which can reach 120°C during transmission, as well as in devices which are exposed to environmental high temperatures, such as a mobile phone left on the dashboard of a car in direct sunlight, or in the engine compartment in an automotive application.

According to Stuart Robinson, director of handset component technologies for Strategy Analytics, “Consumers want their cellphones to be as good as their digital still cameras and produce clear pictures even in low light. We estimate that over the next three years high-powered LED flash in cellphones will grow at an annual average rate of 155%, and will be in over 70% of all camera phones by 2010. CAP-XX supercapacitors are a technology enabler for this market. We have seen them power multiple high-current LEDs to full light intensity, producing clear pictures in low light from up to 3 meters away. I expect their new higher-voltage models will make the results even better.”