title: Miniaturized supercapacitors: key materials and structures towards autonomous and sustainable devices and systems.
abstract: Supercapacitors (SCs) are playing a key role for the development of self-powered and self-sustaining integrated systems for different fields ranging from remote sensing, robotics and medical devices. SC miniaturization and integration into more complex systems that include energy harvesters and functional devices are valuable strategies that address system autonomy. Here, we discuss about novel SC fabrication and integration approaches. Specifically, we report about the results of interdisciplinary activities on the development of thin, flexible SCs by an additive technology based on Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition (SCBD) to be implemented into supercapacitive electrolyte gated transistors and supercapacitive microbial fuel cells. Such systems integrate at materials level the specific functions of devices, like electric switch or energy harvesting with the reversible energy storage capability. These studies might open new frontiers for the development and application of new multifunction-energy storage elements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soavi
authors.affiliation: CIMaINa and Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Giacomo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bettini
authors.affiliation: CIMaINa and Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piseri
authors.affiliation: CIMaINa and Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Plamen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atanassov
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arbizzani
keywords: Electrochemical double layer; Electrolyte gated transistor; Flexible micro supercapacitor; Microbial fuel cell; Supersonic cluster beam deposition