Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: New CAP-XX High-Temperature Supercapacitors Pack Pulse Power in a Thin, Environmentally-Robust Package

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Abstract:
Higher-Boiling-Point Electrolyte Enables Long-Life 5.5-Volt Supercapacitors That Withstand -40 to + 85°C Temperatures

New CAP-XX High-Temperature Supercapacitors Pack Pulse Power in a Thin, Environmentally-Robust Package

SYDNEY, Australia | Posted on September 10th, 2007

CAP-XX Limited (LSE:CPX), a leader in ultra-thin supercapacitors which boost power delivery in mobile devices to enable new functionality and extend battery life, today expanded its product line with the High Temperature HS and HW series supercapacitors.

The 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. These supercapacitors work reliably 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.

The new supercapacitors offer long-life performance at up to 2.75V in single-cell versions, and 5.5V in dual-cell versions with the two cells connected in series. All devices operate from -40 to +85°C.

"These ruggedized supercapacitors support the most environmentally-demanding, power-hungry mobile phone applications," said Anthony Kongats, CEO of CAP-XX. "The higher voltage enables high-power LED flash for better pictures, and can double audio power for richer-sounding music. The new high-temperature threshold assures reliability, even in a phone left in a car on a hot day."

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."

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 supercapacitors benefit from a unique nanotechnology construction which packs the highest energy and power densities into thin, lightweight, prismatic packages that will fit into slim portable devices. They store 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.

The new HW series features a very small 28.5 x 17mm footprint and combines high capacitance (C up to 0.4 Farad at 5.5V) with low equivalent-series-resistance (ESR as low as 100 milliohm at 5.5V) in a thin (0.9 to 2.90mm) package. The HS series features a small 39 x 17mm footprint and combines high C (up to 0.7 Farad) with very low ESR (as low as 55 milliohm at 5.5V) in the same thin (0.9 to 2.90mm) package. The low-profile prismatic packages may be soldered or ultrasonic welded to pads on a PCB.

Pulse current for a single pulse is 20A, RMS current is 4A. The new supercapacitors have power densities as high as 71.5KW/litre and energy densities up to 5.5KJ/litre (or 1.5Wh/litre).

Applications of Supercapacitors:

CAP-XX's High Temperature supercapacitors are suitable for many of the applications in which the company's General Purpose (G Series) supercapacitors have been adopted, but which demand an increased environmental operating range and/or a higher voltage rating.

Typical applications have periodic pulsed loads which draw greater power than the voltage source (usually a battery or a current-limited power supply) can comfortably deliver:

* High-Power LED Flash for camera phones, PDAs and digital cameras
* High-Power Audio Amplifiers for mobile audio in cell phones and portable multimedia players
* GSM/GPRS/EDGE Modems in PCMCIA and CF cards, PCI Expresscards, and USB-attached devices
* Wireless Modems in devices powered by fuel cells, solar cells, wind, water, vibration, and other low-current energy-harvesting technologies
* Autofocus, Zoom lens and Motor drives in digital cameras
* Pulsed loads at low temperatures where batteries have difficulty delivering the required current
* Pulsed loads in devices powered by low-power, long-life batteries such as Lithium Thionyl Chloride. Examples include Automatic Meter Reading modules, Toll Tags/RFID Tags, Location Tracking Devices, Security Systems, M2M Wireless Sensor Networks, etc.

CAP-XX supercapacitors are found in devices such as the rugged handhelds, PDAs and Point-of-Sale systems from Banksys, Handheld Products, Intermec, Datalogic and Symbol Technologies, and in wireless modems produced by Sierra Wireless, Option, IP Wireless and Thetalogix.

Pricing:

Prices start at less than $2 each in production quantities.

Availability:

Samples and production quantities are available now from CAP-XX and its authorized distributors.

Product information:

For a Product Comparison: http://www.cap-xx.com/products/products.htm

For Datasheets, Product Bulletins, Application Notes, Application Briefs, Design Aid Calculators, Evaluation Board Manuals and Assembly Notes: http://www.cap-xx.com/resources/resources.htm

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About CAP-XX Limited
CAP-XX supercapacitors enable manufacturers to make smaller, thinner, longer-running portable electronics such as cell phones, PDAs, PMPs and medical devices. The company, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Markets (AIM) in London, is based in Sydney, Australia, has additional production facilities in Malaysia, and sales offices in the UK and USA. For more information, visit http://www.cap-xx.com or email

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
CAP-XX Ltd.
1709 Crooked Pine Dr.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 USA
+1 843 215 2854
Fax +1 843 215 4419

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