Notable & Newsworthy

December 2021
Scientists Find Ways to Help Perovskite Solar Cell

Fig. 1. Degradation of the perovskite material with moisture.

A team led by Prof. HU Linhua at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has recently developed a type of self-healing perovskite solar cell by functional combination of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Related results were published in Journal of Energy Chemistry. These solar cel
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Date:
12/31/2021
TE Connectivity T92H Relay Now Available From TTI
TTI, Inc., is now offering the T92H from TE Connectivity (TE). TE’s Potter & Brumfield T92 Series Two-Pole 50A Relay is primarily designed for HVAC, industrial controls, power supply, charging, lighting and inverter applications. The improvement on the key components’ conductivity and heat dissipation ca
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Date:
12/24/2021
700V-rated GaNFast Power ICs Enable Higher Efficiencies
Navitas Semiconductor announced that its GaNFast power ICs with GaNSense technology have been upgraded to increase efficiency, power density, and access additional fast-charger markets. GaN is a next-generation semiconductor technology that runs up to 20x faster than legacy silicon and enables up to 3x
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Date:
12/23/2021
NYPA Deploys Grid-enhancing Technology to Optimize Transmission Capacity
The New York Power Authority (NYPA), the country’s largest state-owned public power organization, announced that it will deploy grid enhancing technology to help unlock additional transmission capacity to enable more renewable energy to reach the grid. The non-contact LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors wi
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Date:
12/21/2021
STMicroelectronics Throws Down With REV Robotics'
STMicroelectronics announced it is contributing multiple STM32 microcontrollers (MCUs) to the “Switchback” battlebot. The 250-pound battlebot, which uses a dual-motor drum spinner mounted on a fully-ambidextrous arm, is designed for durability and serviceability – as well as to win robot battles by
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Date:
12/21/2021
Automotive Boost Controller Shrinks Class-D Audio Amplifier Space by 36%
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced a highly efficient multi-phasesynchronous boost controller that regulates high-power Class-D amplifiers in automotive infotainment systems. The MAX25203 features both programmable gate drive voltage and current limit blanking time, as well as accurate current balancing, an
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Date:
12/21/2021
PSDcast – Wolfspeed's Silicon Carbide Deal with General Motors

Jay Cameron, who leads the power business over at Wolfspeed

Wolfspeed just signed a momentous agreement with General Motors to leverage SiC for GM’s electric vehicle programs. And given the gravity of the news, we’d like to delve a little deeper, talk about what it means for the industry and the general state of silicon carbide in electric vehicles.
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Date:
12/17/2021
New 200V Single-Channel Gate Driver ICs Family
Minimized R&D efforts and costs as well as robust and highly efficient operation of medium-voltage gallium-nitride (GaN) switches are key requirements for modern power electronics systems. In accordance with its strategically-designed GaN product portfolio to continuously strengthen full system solutions, In
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Date:
12/16/2021
Ultra-Compact, High-Efficiency Medically-Certified Power Supplies
Advanced Energy launched the Excelsys Xsolo XB1000 series. The ultra-compact single-output AC-DC power supplies for Type BF medical applications feature market-leading 92% efficiency and user-defined output setpoint voltages. XB1000 power supplies have the safety approvals required to simplify and speed the
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Date:
12/16/2021
Automotive Grade Chip LAN Transformer Offers PCB Layout Flexibility
Bourns, Inc., released its automotive grade Model SM453229A-381N7Y 10/100/1000 Base-T Chip LAN Transformer. Designed for maximum PCB layout flexibility, Bourns' latest Chip LAN Transformer model is a low-profile discrete solution. It is also AEC-Q200 compliant featuring an expanded temperature range of 40 to +105 °C, is capable o
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Date:
12/16/2021
Fast-Recovery Epitaxial Diode Series Supports Higher Current Applications
Taiwan Semiconductor announces the extension of its recently launched line of fast recovery epitaxial diodes. The new PUUPxxH family extends the benefits of FRED technology to applications requiring up to 6A of operating current. These high-reliability (AEC-Q101 qualified) devices deliver optimized sw
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Date:
12/16/2021
GaN Power ICs for Data Center, Solar and Electric Vehicle Customers
Navitas Semiconductor announced that high-power GaN power IC samples are now available for the first time to data center, solar and electric vehicle (EV) customers worldwide. Navitas GaNFast ICs were first introduced to mobile customers three years ago and have become a mainstream, disruptive force in
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Date:
12/16/2021
PSDcast – Using the IoT to Create a Cleaner Post-COVID Office

The new CEO of EnOcean, Raoul Wijgergangs

One of the caveats for many people returning to the office post-Covid was employers giving the work environment a thorough cleansing, and many companies have taken to using IoT technology to create a safer atmosphere for everyone. And today, we're speaking with the new CEO of EnOcean, Raoul Wijgergangs.
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Date:
12/14/2021
Solitron Devices Announces 1200V, 100A Power Modules
Solitron is pleased to announce the introduction of the SD11906, SD11907, SD11956 and SD11957 1200V Silicon Carbide (SiC) Half Bridge Power Modules. Solitron has developed this power module series to maximize the benefits of SiC, with a unique robust, simple, and cost-effective module format. The 37mm
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Date:
12/13/2021
TRACO POWER THM 60WI Series
The THM 60WI series is a range of medical 60 Watt DC/DC converters in a compact 2.3” x 1.45” plastic package and with wide 4:1 input voltage range. They provide a reinforced isolation system (5000 VAC) and a very low leakage current of less than 4.5 μA. With a high efficiency of up to 92% and highest-grade compon
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Date:
12/13/2021
65 A Chipset Redefines Power Conversion
EPC announces the introduction of a 100 V, 65 A integrated circuit chipset designed for 48 V DC-DC conversion used in high-density computing applications and in 48 V BLDC motor drives for e-mobility, robotics, and drones. The EPC23101 eGaN IC plus EPC2302 eGaN FET offers a new ePower Ch
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Date:
12/13/2021
Infineon Provides Secured Authentication for Qi 1.3 Certified Wireless Charger
Infineon Technologies AG has developed a security solution for automotive wireless charging: OPTIGA Trust Charge automotive complies with version 1.3 of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi standard, which requires strong cryptographic authentication for wireless charging up to 15 W. For this, the po
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Date:
12/13/2021
New SiC Devices Help Drive the Future of EVs, Industrial Applications
STMicroelectronics is introducing its third generation of STPOWER silicon-carbide (SiC) MOSFETs, advancing the state-of-the-art in power devices for electric-vehicle (EV) powertrains and other applications where power density, energy efficiency, and reliability are important target criteria. ST has incorpora
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Date:
12/09/2021
ROHM's New 13.56MHz Wireless Power Supply Chipset up to 1W
ROHM Group company LAPIS Technology announced they have developed a chipset capable of providing up to 1W of wireless power for compact, streamlined wearable devices and for industrial smart, miniaturized, and sealed solutions. The ML7661 (transmitter) and ML7660 (receiver) el
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Date:
12/09/2021
The World's First 100% Electric and Autonomous E-Container Ship
The Yara Birkeland, the world's first autonomous and fully electric container ship, will soon commence commercial operations while beginning a two-year test period, prior to entering full autonomous operation on a route off the coast of Norway. It is fully powered by a Leclanché high-energy lithium-ion bat
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Date:
12/09/2021
PSDcast – The Benefits of Silicon Carbide in EV On-Board Charging

Infineon’s Dr. Gerald Deboy

We’ve covered EVs on this show a fair bit lately and that’s not exactly a coincidence, and today, we’re discussing the benefits of silicon carbide in EV on-board charging.
Date:
12/08/2021
Vayyar's Fall Detection Tech Compatible w/ Amazon Alexa Together Service
Vayyar Imaging, the Israeli supplier of 4D imaging radar-based solutions, has teamed up with Amazon to make Vayyar Care, Vayyar’s touchless fall detection solution, compatible with the new Alexa Together service from Amazon, launching today.  Wall-mounted sensors use point cloud imaging techno
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Date:
12/07/2021
ICs Slash Energy Waste in Appliance Power Supplies by 75%
Power Integrations introduced the highly integrated InnoSwitch 3-TN off-line, CV/CC flyback switcher IC. Offered in a safety-qualified, compact MinSOP-16A package and incorporating a 725 V primary MOSFET, isolated feedback, synchronous rectification and secondary-side control, InnoSwitch3-TN ICs
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Date:
12/07/2021
10 kW Power Supply Offers Industry's Most Precise Plasma Control
Advanced Energy has expanded its family of plasma power generators with a 10 kW pulsed DC power supply that combines industry-leading power and control capabilities with PowerInsight by Advanced Energy embedded process optimization software. With patented pulsing technology, the Ascent SMS AP (Advanced Pu
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Date:
12/07/2021
Precision Wideband ADC Pushes Data-Acquisition Performance Higher
Texas Instruments (TI) introduced the smallest 24-bit wideband analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that delivers industry-leading signal-measurement precision at wider bandwidths than competing ADCs. The ADS127L11, the newest product in TI’s portfolio of precision wideband ADCs, achieves ultra-precise data acquisition in
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Date:
12/07/2021
Gen 3 GaN power ICs Support new Ultrafast Mobile Charging
Navitas Semiconductor announced details of how its gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors - GaNFast power ICs with GaNSense technology - are used to ultra-fast-charge Xiaomi’s new Note 11 Pro+ flagship smartphone. Xiaomi’s advanced power management and leading-edge graphene Li-Ion battery technolog
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Date:
12/07/2021
ROHM Solution Simulator Adds New Thermal Analysis Function
ROHM Semiconductor announced the recent addition of a new thermal analysis function to the ROHM Solution Simulator. This new feature allows circuit and system designers in the automotive and industrial markets to collectively verify power devices and driver IC thermal issues on
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Date:
12/07/2021
Medical and Industrial Power Supplies have a 300W Convection Rating
TDK Corporation announces the introduction of the 500W rated TDK-Lambda brand CUS500M1 series of AC-DC power supplies. The series is certified to the medical IEC 60601-1 and audio / visual / ITE (Information Technology Equipment) IEC 62368-1 standards for both Class I or Class II (double insulated) installations. Targ
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Date:
12/07/2021
Researchers on Avoiding Blackouts w/ Clean, Renewable Energy

Graphs showing timeline of energy sources for meeting all U.S. energy needs with wind, water and solar (WWS) power sources. The graph on left shows mix for 80% WWS by 2030 and 100% by 2035. The graph on right shows mix for is 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The 2050 end points in both cases are cases examined in the study.

For some, visions of a future powered by clean, renewable energy are clouded by fears of blackouts driven by intermittent electricity supplies. Those fears are misplaced, according to a new Stanford University study that analyzes grid stability under multiple scenarios in which wind, water and solar en
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Date:
12/07/2021
Development of a Transparent and Flexible Ultra-Thin Memory Device

(a-c) hBN transfer to the ITO/PET substrate (d) hBN/ITO/PET substrate; (e) formation of QDs monolayer using a spin-coating technique; (f-g) hBN transfer to the QD/hBN/ITO/PET substrate (h) Au electrode deposition on hBN/QD/hBN/ITO/PET by using a thermal evaporation process; (i) photographs of the device.

A two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial-based flexible memory device is a critical element in the next-generation wearable market because it plays a crucial role in data storage, processing, and communication. An ultra-thin memory device materialized with a 2D nanomaterial of several nanometers (nm) can significantly in
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Date:
12/07/2021
PSDcast – The $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill's Impact on Small Businesses

Ben Johnston, the COO at Kapitus

A $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill just passed, with President Biden calling it "a once-in-generation bipartisan infrastructure bill that will create millions of jobs…." And today, we’ll be discussing the bill’s impact on small businesses and renewable energy in general with Kapitus.
Date:
12/06/2021
Polished Pipes for World's Largest Solar Park
In 2020, renewable generating capacity grew by 261 gigawatt hours, up 10.3 %, according to a new study by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Solar energy continues to lead this expansion with growth of 127 GW, up 22 %. BUTTING plays its part with its products in this development and currently pr
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Date:
12/02/2021
nanoPower Modules Extend Battery Life in Space-Constrained Applications
Designers can now extend battery life and reduce size in space-constrained internet of things (IoT) devices with two nanoPower modules with built-in inductors from Analog Devices, Inc. Both products are part of Analog Devices’ Essential Analog family of efficient power ICs. The MAXM38643 1.8V to
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Date:
12/02/2021
AC or DC? Powering Intelligent Buildings

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: The DC-powered home

Most electronics requires DC at board level and even motor-driven AC machines are often ‘smart’, inverter-driven types, that operate internally from a high voltage DC bus. At the same time, buildings are becoming more ‘intelligent’ adding convenience, productivity and reducing energy consumption. This ca
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Date:
12/01/2021
True Sustainability for Batteries

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Figure 1: The efficiency of Battery Resourcers’ closed-loop approach

With the transportation and energy industries driving wide scale adoption of lithium-ion batteries, robust, scalable and reliable supply chains are becoming a priority for major vehicle OEMs, electric grid operators and even national governments. That’s the reason for the U.S. National Blueprint for Lithium Ba
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Date:
12/01/2021
Empowering Next-Gen EV Fast Charging with Advanced Electrical Protection

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Figure 1: EV charging systems are migrating rapidly in the direction of DC-based 50kW to 350kW power solutions

Now that the latest Electric Vehicles (EVs) are exhibiting operational ranges satisfactory to the general public, the attention has shifted to battery charging times. These EVs are using the latest in wide-bandgap semiconductor solutions and power topologies, with system voltages often well over several hundred vo
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Date:
12/01/2021
Meeting EMC Compliance Requirements Using Internal and External Filter Arrangements

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Figure 1: EMI pick-up in cabling

Among the most important of these specifications will be the ones that relate to electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC). Having a good understanding of the EMI/EMC aspect of the chosen power supply will therefore be an essential part of its implementation. Furthermore, with bot
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Date:
12/01/2021
Simplifying Design of Analog Input Modules for Process Control

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1. AD4111 functional block diagram

When designing analog input modules for process control applications such as programmable logic controller (PLC) or distributed control system (DCS) modules, the main trade-off considered is usually performance vs. cost. A tradition exists in this application space of using bipolar ±15V rails to supply active fr
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Date:
12/01/2021
The End in Sight for Semiconductor Shortages
We are now at the end of another year and the shortage of semiconductors is still affecting the industry. Many analysts thought that the shortage would be over by the middle of this year, and the same analysts are now predicting around the same time next year. Most fabs are working to full capacity at the moment. Ac
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Date:
12/01/2021
Why is the Creation of Hydrogen and Hydrogen Fuel Cells so Inefficient?
A company called DiviGas just received $3.6 million in a seed round, with promises to “clean up the hydrogen production industry.” So is hydrogen ready for its (mainstream) debut at Carnegie Hall? Not quite. The hydrogen fuel cell isn’t exactly breaking news – a primitive version was touted by Englan
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Date:
12/01/2021
 The Automotive Electronics Bust Was Predictable
As I write this, we are locked in the “bust” part of the boom-bust hysteretic cycle that plagues the electronics component industry. Since I began working in the semiconductor industry in the mid-1980s, I’ve seen these swings occur randomly from rail to rail. The causes stem from industry attitudes toward pr
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Date:
12/01/2021
Automotive Audio Bus and Ethernet in Automotive Applications

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Figure 1. Traditional in-car cabling for audio systems

The number of electronic systems in cars has increased in recent years, reaching higher levels of complexity with the adoption of new technologies for infotainment and advanced driver-assistance systems (cameras, radar, lidar, etc.), along with multiple sensors for many different purposes (stability, speed, ac
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Date:
12/01/2021
Charging Electric Commercial Vehicles

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Figure 1. Modern bus depot with charging infrastructure

With the electrification of heavy-duty or commercial vehicles, charging larger batteries than the ones in electric passenger cars becomes necessary. As time is money especially in logistics, either assigning idle times for charging or increasing charging power are preferred options. This leads to three different ch
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Date:
12/01/2021
EV Wireless BMS: Your Questions Answered
With Strategy Analytics estimating 36 million EVs on the road by 2026, wireless BMS offer promising ways to make vehicles more efficient and reliable – features that appeal to both original equipment manufacturers and consumers. For consumers, wireless BMS could potentially mean lower EV costs, along with be
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Date:
12/01/2021
Transportation and Electrification
It has been a challenging and often frustrating year for us all and hopefully next year will give us a fresh start, or at least put us on the path to one. The chip shortage has persisted longer than most analysts thought and it may now be the middle of next year before the fabs have caught up with demand. The sh
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Date:
12/01/2021
Transporting You Into the New Year
We stand on the precipice of one of the greatest gauntlets all year (and into the next) with two intertwined topics for December and January – “Transportation” and “EV + Charging Infrastructure + Hybrid Vehicles,” respectively. But before we dive into this month’s focus, I wanted to personally thank ou
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Date:
12/01/2021
Microchip Continues Expansion of GaN RF Power Portfolio
Microchip Technology Inc. announced a significant expansion of its Gallium Nitride (GaN) Radio Frequency (RF) power device portfolio with new MMICs and discrete transistors that cover frequencies up to 20 gigahertz (GHz). The devices combine high power-added efficiency (PAE) and high li
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Date:
12/01/2021
Silicon Designs' New Low-G Series of MEMS DC Accelerometer Chips
Silicon Designs, Inc. announced the global market launch of its Model 1525 Low-G Series of MEMS DC accelerometer chips, with stock quantities now available for immediate customer shipment.   The Silicon Designs Model 1525 Low-G Series is designed to offer reliable, accurate, and repeatable low-fr
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Date:
12/01/2021
Silicon Carbide Modules Unlock Higher Power Density in Motor Drives

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: The system block diagram (left) showing three main components: the two converter modules, each with a gate driver, and the controller. The power modules mounted on the cold plate (A), and then in the power core with gate drivers (B), are also shown outside the dual inverter enclosure (C). Handles and feet are provided for portability, (D) shows the 204 mm x 267.5 mm cross section

The traction drive is where nearly all of an electric vehicle’s (EV’s) energy is put to use. The drive system must, therefore, perform with the highest possible efficiency while occupying the smallest possible space with the lowest weight — all to maximize the EV range. With the use of dual drives to enhance tr
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Date:
12/01/2021
Stanford Engineers Create Perching Bird-Like Robot

The grasping robot that Stanford engineers developed based on studies of birds.

Like snowflakes, no two branches are alike. They can differ in size, shape and texture; some might be wet or moss-covered or bursting with offshoots. And yet birds can land on just about any of them. This ability was of great interest to the labs of Stanford University engineers Mark Cutkosky and David Le
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Date:
12/01/2021
Machine Learning Helps Mathematicians Make new Connections

The University of Oxford

For the first time, mathematicians have partnered with artificial intelligence to suggest and prove new mathematical theorems. The work was done in a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the University of Sydney in Australia and DeepMind, Google's artificial intelligence sister company. While computers
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Date:
12/01/2021
Researchers Propose Method to Increase Charge of Supercapacitors

Growth of polarizability or permanent dipole moment of cations leads to considerable growth of differential capacitance

Researchers from HSE MIEM and the Institute of Non-Classical Chemistry in Leipzig have proposed a new theoretical model of supercapacitors that takes into account the properties of a cation, which considerably impacts the electric differential capacitance of supercapacitors. This is the first publication of
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Date:
12/01/2021
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