• New polymer capacitor stores 4x energy at 482°F for electric vehicles, data centers Penn State researchers build high-temperature polymer capacitor delivering four times more energy density. • Penn State researchers have developed a new high-temperature polymer capacitor that can store four times more energy than conventional designs while operating at temperatures up to 482 degrees Fahrenheit. • The advance could improve power systems in electric vehicles, data centers, aerospace systems and other high-heat environments where today’s capacitors quickly fail. • Polymer capacitors are built for fast bursts of energy rather than long-term storage. • Unlike batteries, which release energy slowly through chemical reactions, capacitors charge and discharge rapidly. • They stabilize voltage, support power electronics, and deliver sudden surges of electricity, such as in camera flashes or medical defibrillators.
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