Captop S.r.l. is an Italian Start-Up and academic and Spin-Off at the University of Naples Federico II founded in 2017.

As academic Spin-Off, we have privileged access to all the university facilities. Over time we have built virtuous collaborations with several universities and research institutes, including CNR (National Research Council) and ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development).

Captop have developed different research lines for each component of a supercapacitor (SC):

1. Research Line – Electrolyte.

1.1. Commercial and Innovative biomass-based aprotic polar solvents.

In SCs the electrolyte is the component less sustainable. Indeed, the solvent commonly used is the acetonitrile (ACN), which is a fossil-based solvent, toxic, volatile, and flammable. For this reason, we are screening sustainable commercial solvent in combination with commercial conductive salts to find a green alternative to standard solvents. To enlarge this scope, we have also individuated an innovative class of solvents suitable in SCs application. The results of this research have been filed as an industrial patent and published as research article.[1],[2]

1.2. Multicharge-electrolytes.

The second component of the electrolyte is the conducting salt, typically based on tetralkyl ammonium. This component is fundamental to the built-up of the electrical double layer on the electrodes. In this field we are studying multi-charge organic ions to increase the charge densities of the electrical double layer.

2. Research Line – Electrode.

2.1. Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO).

In the energy storage, graphene-based materials are extensively studied thanks to their properties. Among these, Captop is investigating the possibility to use reduced graphene oxide both as an active material to produce high-performance products, and as a conductive binder with activated carbon to increase the performance of standard SC. Reduced Graphene Oxide is a viable alternative to graphene thanks to competitive performance and a much simpler manufacturing process. In this field, we have produced a SC prototype with an innovative current collector, based on high-quality rGO using activated carbon and rGO as active materials.[3]

2.2. Graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide production.

Due to the promising results obtained from the use of rGO as a substance, we also investigated the methods for its production and developed a sustainable method to obtain it at a high purity. We are in contact with the University of Bath (UK) for the foundation of a Spin-Off to produce these graphene-based materials.

3. Research Line – Electronic components.

3.1. Electronic balancing board.

The high power of the SC-modules has to be managed through electronic balancing boards to get the highest performance achievable. Therefore, we have developed customized electronic boards, both active and passive, to increase the overall performances of the SC-modules. In this context, we have collaborated with Ocima S.r.l. in the European ComESto (Community Energy storage) project.

3.2. Fast charge transfer systems.

In this sector we have developed an electronic system to perform fast charge transfer between different SCs moduli. Moreover, we have acquired an exclusive license on a fast-charging system for transport with electric traction.[4]

In the international framework, we are promoters of an international project on the energy storage as part of the financial program Horizon Europe (Horizon 2027).

 

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NOTE

[1] Pending patent – Ufficio Italiano Brevetti e Marchi, Deposit number: 102020000006766, “Composizioni di soluzioni elettrolitiche contenenti solventi da fonti rinnovabili basati su a-idrossiacidi e loro combinazioni”.

[2] M. Melchiorre, R., M. Di Serio, G. Abbate, A. Lampasi, A. Balducci and F. Ruffo “Lactic Acid-Based Solvents for Sustainable EDLC Electrolytes” Energies, 2021, 14, 4250.

[3] M. Rapisarda, A. Damasco, G. Abbate, and M. Meo “Carbon Black and Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for Binder-Free Supercapacitors with Reduced Graphene Oxide Paper as the Current Collector” ACS Omega 2020, 5, 32426−32435).

[4] World Intellectual Property Organization, Publication Number WO 2008/020463 A2, “Quick-recharging energy feeding system for means of transport with electric traction”