Scientists Have Modelled Supercapacitor Operation at Molecular and Ionic Level
HSE scientists used supercomputer simulations to study the behaviour of ions and water molecules inside the nanopores of a supercapacitor. The results showed that even a very small amount of water alters the charge distribution inside the nanopores and influences the device’s energy storage capacity. This approach makes it possible to predict how supercapacitors behave under different electrolyte compositions and humidity conditions. The paper has been published in Electrochimica Acta. The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF).
Supercapacitors are compact devices capable of rapidly storing and releasing electrical energy. They are used in electronics, hybrid vehicles, energy recovery systems, and solar and wind power plants. Unlike batteries, which require tens of minutes to several hours to charge and typically endure about 500–1,000 cycles, supercapacitors can charge within seconds and withstand hundreds of thousands of cycles without noticeable loss of capacity—the amount of energy the device can store and release. The limitation of supercapacitors is that, despite their speed, they store less energy than batteries of the same size. Therefore, researchers continue to study supercapacitors to find ways of increasing their energy storage capacity.
Previously, a team of researchers from HSE University investigated the behaviour of ions and electrolyte molecules in carbon nanopores and developed a model of the electric double layer. In a new study, scientists from HSE University and the Institute of Solution Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences modelled, for the first time, the behaviour of electrolytes at the level of individual ions and molecules using HSE University's supercomputer. They studied a mixture of an ionic liquid, an organic solvent, and trace amounts of water confined within carbon micropores 0.7–1.9 nanometres wide. Using the molecular and ionic trajectories obtained, the researchers calculated differential capacitance profiles and compared the results with experimental data.
Yury Budkov
'The modelling allowed us to observe how ions and solvent molecules are distributed within the pores, how they form layered structures, and how these layers change with variations in the electrode’s charge,' explains Yury Budkov, Professor at MIEM HSE. 'For the first time, we obtained the differential capacitance of a supercapacitor directly from full-atom molecular dynamics simulations, rather than from simplified theoretical models. This approach allows for more accurate predictions of supercapacitor performance without the need for complex and costly experiments.'
The simulation results showed that even trace amounts of water significantly alter the behaviour of the electrolyte in nanopores. Under a weak negative electrode charge, water disrupted the ordering of ions, thereby reducing the differential capacitance. Conversely, under a strong positive electrode charge, water increased the capacitance: its molecules aligned with the electric field and partially offset the effect of the electrode charge on the ions, thereby altering their distribution within the nanopores.
The scientists also found that changes in capacitance with pore thickness are directly associated with fluctuations in disjoining pressure, the excess pressure within a thin liquid film inside the nanopores. For the first time, it was demonstrated that these fluctuations correspond to changes in the device’s capacitance and reflect how the inner layers of the electrolyte shift and compact when the electrode is charged. This analysis helps explain why, in real supercapacitors, variations in humidity or electrolyte composition can lead to increases or decreases in device performance.
Daria Gurina
'Even small amounts of water impurities can rearrange the internal structure of the electrolyte within the pore and influence charge storage. Understanding these subtle effects is crucial for the development of new electrolytes and electrode materials,' explains Daria Gurina, Research Fellow at MIEM HSE.
The researchers believe that such models will enable more accurate predictions of supercapacitor performance and contribute to the development of more efficient and durable devices for transportation, electronics, and energy storage systems.
See also:
Designing an Accurate Reading Skills Test: Why Parallel Texts are Important in Dyslexia Diagnosis
Researchers from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have developed a tool for accurately assessing reading skills in adults with reading impairments. It can be used, for instance, before and after sessions with a language therapist. The tool includes two texts that differ in content but are equal in complexity: participants were observed to read them at the same speed, make a similar number of errors, and understand the content to the same degree. Such parallel texts will enable more accurate diagnosis of dyslexia and better monitoring of the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing it. The paper has been published in Educational Studies.
HSE University Launches Development of Domestic 6G Communication Technologies Based on Sub-Terahertz Microelectronics
HSE University has launched a large-scale research and engineering initiative to develop domestic technologies for next-generation 6G communication systems. The project is being carried out by the team of the Strategic Technological Project 'Trusted 6G Communication Systems Technology Suite' implemented under the Priority 2030 programme.
Internal Clock: How Heart Rate and Emotions Shape Our Perception of Time
Our perception of time depends on heart rate—this is the conclusion reached by neuroscientists at HSE University. In their experiment, volunteers watched short videos designed to evoke specific emotions and estimated each video's duration, while researchers recorded their heart activity using ECG. The study found that the slower a participant's heart rate, the shorter they perceived the video to be—especially when watching unpleasant content. The study has been published in Frontiers in Psychology.
Scientists Identify Personality Traits That Help Schoolchildren Succeed Academically
Economists from HSE University and the Southern Federal University have found that personality traits such as conscientiousness and open-mindedness help schoolchildren improve their academic performance. The study, conducted across seven countries, was the first large-scale international analysis of the impact of character traits on the academic achievement of 10 and 15-year-olds. The findings have been published in the International Journal of Educational Research.
HSE Researchers Determine Frequency of Genetic Mutations in People with Pulmonary Hypertension
For the first time in Russia, a team of scientists and clinicians has conducted a large-scale genetic study of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The team, which included researchers from the International Laboratory of Bioinformatics at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science, analysed the genomes of over a hundred patients and found that approximately one in ten carried pathogenic mutations in the BMPR2 gene, which is responsible for vascular growth. Three of these mutations were described for the first time. The study has been published in Respiratory Research.
First Caucasus School on Experimental Research and Cognitive Sciences Takes Places in Adygea
On September 17–20, 2025, the First Caucasus School on Experimental Research and Cognitive Sciences took place at the Gornaya Legenda venue of Adyghe State University (ASU). The event was organised by the ASU Experimental Linguistics Laboratory, the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, and the HSE Centre for Sociocultural and Ethnolinguistic Studies. The school brought together over 50 participants—students, doctoral candidates, and early-career researchers from across Russia, along with lecturers and speakers from France, Serbia, China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
HSE Scientists Reveal How Disrupted Brain Connectivity Affects Cognitive and Social Behaviour in Children with Autism
An international team of scientists, including researchers from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, has for the first time studied the connectivity between the brain's sensorimotor and cognitive control networks in children with autism. Using fMRI data, the researchers found that connections within the cognitive control network (responsible for attention and inhibitory control) are weakened, while connections between this network and the sensorimotor network (responsible for movement and sensory processing) are, by contrast, excessively strong. These features manifest as difficulties in social interaction and behavioural regulation in children. The study has been published in Brain Imaging and Behavior.
Similar Comprehension, Different Reading: How Native Language Affects Reading in English as a Second Language
Researchers from the MECO international project, including experts from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, have developed a tool for analysing data on English text reading by native speakers of more than 19 languages. In a large-scale experiment involving over 1,200 people, researchers recorded participants’ eye movements as they silently read the same English texts and then assessed their level of comprehension. The results showed that even when comprehension levels were the same, the reading process—such as gaze fixations, rereading, and word skipping—varied depending on the reader's native language and their English proficiency. The study has been published in Studies in Second Language Acquisition.
‘The Future Is Not Predetermined—We Shape It with the Decisions We Make Today’
The strategic technological project ‘National Centre of Science, Technology, and Socio-Economic Foresight’ at HSE University spans horizons of 10 to 30 years and involves developing new methodologies of scenario analysis. It brings together researchers from different fields and helps to form a holistic vision of the future. The aim of the project is not only to produce forecasts but also to generate practical recommendations for government and business. Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, explains why it is important to learn to ask the right questions about the future.
Mortgage and Demography: HSE Scientists Reveal How Mortgage Debt Shapes Family Priorities
Having a mortgage increases the likelihood that a Russian family will plan to have a child within the next three years by 39 percentage points. This is the conclusion of a study by Prof. Elena Vakulenko and doctoral student Rufina Evgrafova from the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. The authors emphasise that this effect is most pronounced among women, people under 36, and those without children. The study findings have been published in Voprosy Ekonomiki.