Supercapacitors and electrolytic capacitors are two common energy storage devices that play important roles in the electronics and energy fields. Although both utilize electrolytes to store charge, they differ significantly in structure, working principle, performance characteristics, and application areas. The following is a detailed analysis of the differences between supercapacitors and electrolytic capacitors.

Structure and Working Principle
Supercapacitors: A supercapacitor typically consists of two porous electrodes and a separator. Electrode materials usually have high specific surface areas, such as activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, or graphene. The separator isolates the two electrodes, preventing short circuits, while allowing ions to pass through. The energy storage principle of supercapacitors mainly relies on two mechanisms: electric double-layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance. Electric double-layer capacitance arises at the interface between the electrode and the electrolyte. When the electrode is charged, ions in the electrolyte form an electric double layer on the electrode surface, thus storing energy. Pseudocapacitance, on the other hand, is based on reversible chemical reactions occurring on the surface or in the bulk of the electrode material in a two-dimensional or quasi-two-dimensional space. These reactions generate capacitance related to the electrode's charging potential.

Electrolytic Capacitors: An electrolytic capacitor consists of an aluminum or tantalum anode, an electrolyte solution or solid electrolyte as the cathode, and a separator. In aluminum electrolytic capacitors, the aluminum anode serves as the electrolyte by forming a thin film of alumina, while in tantalum electrolytic capacitors, a solid electrolyte is typically used. The energy storage principle of electrolytic capacitors is based on Faraday's electrochemical reaction, where a redox reaction occurs between the anode and the electrolyte during charging, resulting in charge storage.

Performance Characteristics
Supercapacitors: Supercapacitors are characterized by high power density, long cycle life, and rapid charge/discharge capabilities. They can be fully charged in seconds to minutes and can withstand hundreds of thousands of charge/discharge cycles. Supercapacitors have a wide operating temperature range, can operate at extreme temperatures, and have a low self-discharge rate. However, supercapacitors have a relatively low energy density, meaning they store less energy per unit volume or weight.

Electrolytic Capacitors: Electrolytic capacitors are characterized by high energy density, enabling them to store more energy, but they have lower power density and are not suitable for rapid charge/discharge. They have a shorter cycle life, and their performance typically degrades over several years. Electrolytic capacitors are highly temperature-sensitive; high temperatures accelerate electrolyte drying and electrode corrosion, thus shortening their lifespan. Furthermore, electrolytic capacitors suffer from self-discharge, particularly pronounced in tantalum electrolytic capacitors.

Application Areas
Supercapacitors: Supercapacitors are widely used in applications requiring high power output and rapid energy storage, such as start-stop systems for electric vehicles, regenerative braking energy recovery, instantaneous voltage support in power systems, backup power for mobile communication base stations, and fast charging for portable electronic devices. They are also used in military and aerospace applications, such as energy storage in electromagnetic catapults and satellite power systems.

Electrolytic Capacitors: Electrolytic capacitors are primarily used in applications requiring high energy storage, such as power supply filtering, voltage stabilization, signal coupling, and motor drives. They are also widely used in audio equipment, computer motherboards, LED driver power supplies, and household appliances. Due to their high energy density, electrolytic capacitors are also frequently used in miniaturized battery designs.

Summary
Supercapacitors and electrolytic capacitors each have their advantages and limitations, playing important roles in various application scenarios. Supercapacitors, with their high power density and long lifespan, are suitable for applications requiring rapid charging and discharging and high reliability, while electrolytic capacitors, due to their higher energy density, are suitable for applications requiring stable power supply and signal coupling. With advancements in materials science and manufacturing technology, the performance of both types of capacitors will be further improved in the future, providing more reliable and efficient energy solutions for various applications.