Supercapacitors in 2026: overview
Supercapacitors store and release charge rapidly through electric double layers, fast surface redox reactions, or both. Their high power and rapid cycling make them useful where energy must be delivered or absorbed quickly, while lower energy density than batteries remains a key trade-off. Research spans porous carbon, metal oxides, conducting polymers and two-dimensional materials, with device performance depending on electrode structure, electrolyte and the interface between them.
Recent work is addressing that trade-off through engineered materials and closer attention to practical constraints. In October 2026, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology and Central South University reported fulvic-acid-derived micro-mesoporous carbon for high-voltage EDLCs, while University College London and the University of Oxford investigated overcharge failure using in-situ synchrotron radiography. Other recent studies explore bio-waste and plastic-derived carbons, MXene ion transport, electrolyte chemistry and hybrid electrodes. These directions point beyond headline capacitance toward stability, safety, scalable feedstocks and device-level performance.
- 1Engineer the interface: Balancing high energy with fast charge and discharge depends on compatible electrodes and electrolytes, not just the active material.
- 2Waste as feedstock: Recent work turns biomass, industrial by-products and plastic waste into porous carbon, linking electrode development with resource reuse.
- 3Test the whole device: High-voltage operation, overcharge safety and ion transport are emerging as practical constraints alongside electrode performance.
Top organizations working on supercapacitors
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to supercapacitors. Showing 7 of 3,000 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Yeungnam University
Research · South Korea |
Metal oxide pseudocapacitors | PUB 550 | -15% | Recently, researchers developed magnesium cobalt oxide/rGO and ZnMnO₃/ZnO electrodes for asymmetric and hybrid supercapacitors, alongside biomass-derived carbon electrodes for symmetric EDLC devices. |
| 2 | 
King Saud University
Research · Saudi Arabia |
Metal oxide pseudocapacitors | PUB 376 · NEWS 1 | -71% | Recently, researchers investigated oxide-based electrodes and carbon-nanotube-mediated nanoporous electrodes, focusing on morphology and electrolyte-dependent ion transport in hybrid supercapacitors. |
| 3 | 
Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University
Research · Saudi Arabia |
Metal oxide pseudocapacitors | PAT 5 · PUB 330 | +25% | Recently, researchers developed Cu₂O–MnO and HKUST-1@Co(OH)₂@rGO composite electrodes for asymmetric and hybrid supercapacitors; related work also explores biopolymer electrolytes for EDLCs. |
| 4 | 
King Khalid University
Research · Saudi Arabia |
Metal oxide pseudocapacitors | PUB 321 | -11% | Recently, researchers studied metal-oxide composites, including MoO₃–Gd₂O₃ and BiCrO₃–Cr₂O₃, as electrodes for asymmetric supercapacitors. Earlier work also examined gum-arabic blend electrolytes for EDLCs. |
| 5 | 
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
Research · China |
Porous carbon electrodes | PUB 224 · NEWS 13 | -10% | Recently, researchers examined electrolyte-salt effects in EDLCs and developed cathode materials for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors. Other work addresses low-temperature EDLC operation and structured graphitic-carbon electrodes. |
| 6 | 
Gachon University
Research · South Korea |
Hybrid and asymmetric designs | PUB 158 | +55% | Recently, researchers developed composite electrodes for hybrid supercapacitors, including HKUST-1@Co(OH)₂@rGO and NiCo-LDH/MoS₂ heterostructures. The work also explores battery-hybrid devices. |
| 7 | 
Riphah International University
Research · Pakistan |
Hybrid and asymmetric designs | PUB 138 | -32% | Recently, researchers developed NiCo₂Se₄@Co₃O₄/rGO and PCN-777/Mo₂C@Fe₂O₃ heterostructured electrodes for battery-hybrid or asymmetric supercapacitors, with additional hydrogen-evolution applications. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 18 total
Integrated GrapheneUnited KingdomIntegrated Graphene develops a process for producing three-dimensional graphene foam, a porous carbon material with potential as a supercapacitor electrode. Its patent activity includes methods for manufacturing carbon nanostructures.
Materials Innovation TsukubaJapanRecently, the organization patented an electrode film and power-storage device designed for high volumetric energy and output density. Its other patents address graphene-based storage devices and lithium-ion capacitor electrodes.- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
Leading research institutions 2,690 total
- Yeungnam UniversitySouth KoreaRecently, researchers developed magnesium cobalt oxide/rGO and ZnMnO₃/ZnO electrodes for asymmetric and hybrid supercapacitors, alongside biomass-derived carbon electrodes for symmetric EDLC devices.
- King Saud UniversitySaudi ArabiaRecently, researchers investigated oxide-based electrodes and carbon-nanotube-mediated nanoporous electrodes, focusing on morphology and electrolyte-dependent ion transport in hybrid supercapacitors.
- Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman UniversitySaudi ArabiaRecently, researchers developed Cu₂O–MnO and HKUST-1@Co(OH)₂@rGO composite electrodes for asymmetric and hybrid supercapacitors; related work also explores biopolymer electrolytes for EDLCs.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where supercapacitors innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 3,000 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porous carbon electrodes | Porous carbon stores charge across accessible surfaces and supports fast cycling, but energy density depends on pore structure and electrolyte access. | 5,830 |
Yeungnam University, King Saud University, Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University |
| Metal oxide pseudocapacitors | Metal oxides add fast surface redox charge storage, but conductivity and structural stability can limit performance over repeated cycling. | 3,074 |
Yeungnam University, Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University, King Khalid University |
| Conducting polymer electrodes | Conducting polymers offer redox-based charge storage and flexible electrode design, but cycling stability and material degradation are key trade-offs. | 1,433 |
King Khalid University, Maxwell Technologies, KEMET Corporation |
| MXene and 2D electrodes | MXenes and other 2D materials offer conductive, tunable surfaces, but restacking and ion transport through dense electrodes can constrain performance. | 2,118 |
Yeungnam University, King Khalid University, Riphah International University |
| Hybrid and asymmetric designs | Hybrid and asymmetric devices pair different charge-storage mechanisms to raise energy while retaining power, but electrode balance and interface compatibility are challenging. | 833 |
Panasonic, Maxwell Technologies, NIPPON CHEMI - CON Co. |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
FACTS records $267,932,377 in grants across 203 grants since 2020. It also lists 6 rounds totaling $166,325,876; because those entries include grants and a spinout, treat the round total as a broad tagged signal rather than a clean measure of equity financing.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Sep 2026Dublin, Sept. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Mexico Supercapacitor Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Product Type, Module Type, Material Type, End Use Industry, and Region, 2026-2034" has been added to…GlobeNewswire - Industry News on Industrials
- Sep 2026Panasonic Industry seems to be driving innovation through consulting, designing, and supplying a wide range of technologies and systems to various industries. These include automotive, e-mobility, telecom, factory…ELE Times
- Sep 2026Dublin, Sept. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Supercapacitor Market Opportunity, Growth Drivers, Industry Trend Analysis, and Forecast 2026-2035" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global Supercapacitor…GlobeNewswire - Research Analysis And Reports
- Sep 2026The market for supercapacitors for data centre applications is set to grow to over US$950 million by 2037, representing a 40.9% CAGR from 2026. This high growth rate is mainly due to the recent emergence of this…Autos Community
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about supercapacitors
What companies are working on supercapacitors?
Skeleton Technologies, Panasonic, Maxwell Technologies, Aptiv and Integrated Graphene are among the companies identified in supercapacitor activity. Skeleton Technologies is the leading patent holder in FACTS, while Integrated Graphene develops three-dimensional graphene foam and has patent activity in carbon nanostructure manufacturing. Panasonic and Maxwell Technologies appear among organizations active in automotive, grid and other application areas.
Which supercapacitor startups are the most promising in 2026?
The listed startups are Integrated Graphene and Materials Innovation Tsukuba. Integrated Graphene develops three-dimensional graphene foam as a potential porous-carbon electrode and has patent activity in carbon nanostructure manufacturing. Materials Innovation Tsukuba has patented electrode films and power-storage devices aimed at high volumetric energy and output density, as well as graphene-based storage and lithium-ion capacitor electrodes.
Which universities and research centers lead supercapacitor research?
Yeungnam University has 550 documents in the recent activity window, followed by King Saud University with 377 and Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University with 335. Recent work at Yeungnam includes oxide/rGO and biomass-derived carbon electrodes. The Chinese Academy of Sciences studies electrolyte effects, zinc-ion hybrid devices and low-temperature EDLC operation.
How much funding has supercapacitors received?
FACTS records $267,932,377 in grants across 203 grants since 2020. It also lists 6 funding rounds totaling $166,325,876. These are separate funding indicators, and the round entries include grants and a spinout as well as seed financing. The totals should therefore be treated as tagged funding data, not as a single measure of private investment in supercapacitor companies.
Who holds the most supercapacitor patents?
Skeleton Technologies leads the listed patent holders with 21 patents. Kiekert Ag and Nicoventures Trading Ltd have 12 each, followed by KYOCRA AVX Components Corporation with 11. Other listed holders include the French National Center for Scientific Research, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Aptiv and Integrated Graphene, each with 8.
Is supercapacitor patent activity growing?
FACTS lists 626 patents in the 24-month window, with patent activity down 32.6% in the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months. The overall figure does not mean every approach is declining: patent activity and publication trends vary by material and device design. The window comparison is a measure of recent activity, not a forecast of future patenting.
What are the latest developments in supercapacitors?
In October 2026, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology and Central South University reported fulvic-acid-derived porous carbon for high-voltage EDLCs, while University College London and the University of Oxford investigated overcharge failure using synchrotron radiography. Recent work also explores plastic-waste-derived carbon, tall-oil-pitch activated carbon, MXene ion transport and hybrid electrodes designed to improve energy storage without losing fast response.
What are the main approaches in supercapacitors and how do they differ?
Porous carbon electrodes store charge mainly at accessible surfaces; metal oxide pseudocapacitors add fast surface redox reactions. Conducting polymers also use redox storage, while MXene and other two-dimensional electrodes offer tunable conductive surfaces. Hybrid and asymmetric designs combine different storage mechanisms to address the energy–power trade-off, but introduce challenges in electrode matching, electrolyte access and interface stability.
Which countries lead supercapacitor research?
China leads the country list with 35,703 documents, followed by India with 14,863 and the United States with 13,916. South Korea has 7,752 and Japan has 4,518. These figures indicate where the recorded activity is concentrated; they do not distinguish research quality or commercial deployment.
What are the applications of supercapacitors?
FACTS groups supercapacitor applications into automotive and mobility, grid and renewable energy, data centers and backup power, industrial and rail systems, and consumer and IoT devices. The largest listed application area by document count is data centers and backup power, with 3,240 documents. Other tracked areas include automotive and mobility with 2,010 and grid and renewable energy with 1,882.