Electrode and method for the production thereof

1. An electrode comprising:

a collector that is substantially flat and electrically conductive;

an inner intermediate layer that is substantially corrosion resistant and conductive, the inner intermediate layer being on at least part of a surface of the collector;

an outer intermediate layer that is substantially corrosion resistant and conductive, the outer intermediate layer being on at least part of the inner intermediate layer; and

an electrode layer comprising carbon, the electrode layer being on at least part of a surface of the outer intermediate layer that faces away from the inner intermediate layer.

2. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the outer intermediate layer is rough.

3. The electrode of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second inner intermediate layer that is substantially corrosion resistant and conductive, the second inner intermediate layer being on at least part of a second surface of the collector;

a second outer intermediate layer that is substantially corrosion resistant and conductive, the second outer intermediate layer being on at least part of the second inner intermediate layer; and

a second electrode layer comprising carbon, the second electrode being on at least part of a surface of the second outer intermediate layer that faces away from the second inner intermediate layer.

4. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the outer intermediate layer comprises roughness portions having a height of between 1 and 10 μm.

5. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the inner intermediate layer comprises a metal.

6. The electrode of claim 5 , wherein the metal is selected from the IV to VI side groups of the periodic table.

7. The electrode of claim 5 , wherein the metal comprises one or more of titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, tantalum, zirconium and niobium.

8. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the outer intermediate layer comprises a metal alloy.

9. The electrode of claim 8 , wherein the metal alloy comprises metal carbide and/or metal nitride.

10. The electrode of claim 8 , wherein a metal in the metal alloy is selected from the IV to VI side groups of the periodic table.

11. The electrode of claim 8 , wherein a metal in the metal alloy comprises one or more of titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, tantalum, zirconium and niobium.

12. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises an aluminum foil.

13. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the collector has perforations.

14. The electrode of claim 13 , wherein the collector comprises a network of metal wires.

15. The electrode of claim 13 , wherein the collector comprises an etched foam metal.

16. The electrode of claim 13 , wherein the collector comprises a metal foil with stamped or laser-welded holes.

17. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises a stretched aluminum foil with perforations.

18. A method of manufacturing an electrode, comprising:

forming an inner intermediate layer on at least part of a surface of a collector, the surface of the collector being substantially flat and the inner intermediate layer being conductive;

forming an outer intermediate layer on at least part of the inner intermediate layer, the outer intermediate layer being conductive; and

forming an electrode layer comprising carbon on at least part of the outer intermediate layer.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the inner intermediate layer is formed via a CVD or PVD process.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the outer intermediate layer comprises forming a metal alloy via a CVD or PVD process.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the inner intermediate layer comprises forming a metal layer; and

wherein areas of the inner intermediate layer react, during formation of the outer intermediate layer, with materials comprising one or more of carbon, nitrogen and boron, to produce at least one of metal carbide, metal nitride, metal carbon nitride and metal boride.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the metal alloy comprises one of metal carbide, metal nitride and metal boride.

23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising roughening a surface of the outer intermediate layer on which the electrode layer is to be formed prior to forming the electrode layer.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the surface of the outer intermediate layer is roughened via a mechanical process or a chemical process.

25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the electrode layer is formed by applying, to the outer intermediate layer, a liquid or viscous phase containing electrode material.

26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the collector comprises aluminum foil, and wherein surface layers of the aluminum foil are removed before forming the inner intermediate layer.

27. A capacitor, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a porous separator between the first and second electrodes; and

an electrolyte that contacts the electrodes and the porous separator; are

wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises:

a collector that is substantially flat and electrically conductive;

an inner intermediate layer that is substantially corrosion resistant and conductive, the inner intermediate layer being on at least part of a surface of the collector;

an outer intermediate layer that is substantially corrosion resistant and conductive, the outer intermediate layer being on at least part of the inner intermediate layer; and

an electrode layer comprising carbon, the electrode layer being on at least part of a surface of the outer intermediate layer that faces away from the inner intermediate layer.