Abstract
Carbon nanotubes exhibit mechanical properties ideally suited for reinforced structural composites and surface area and conductivity attractive for electrochemical capacitors. Here we demonstrate the multifunctional synergy between these properties in a composite material exhibiting simultaneous mechanical and energy storage properties. This involves a reinforcing electrode developed using dense, aligned carbon nanotubes grown on stainless steel mesh that is layered in an ion conducting epoxy electrolyte matrix with Kevlar or fiberglass mats. The resulting energy storage composites exhibit elastic modulus over 5 GPa, mechanical strength greater than 85 MPa, and energy density up to 3 mWh/kg for the total combined system including electrodes, current collector, Kevlar or fiberglass, and electrolyte matrix. Furthermore, findings from in-situ mechano-electro-chemical tests indicate simultaneous mechanical and electrochemical functionality with invariant and stable supercapacitor performance maintained throughout the elastic regime.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 17662 |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 5 Dec 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018, The Author(s).
Funding
Funding for this work was provided by BSF Startup Grant Number - 2014041 and by a BSF Prof. Rahamimoff Travel Grant. G. D. N., E. T., A. I. and M. M. acknowledge partial support from the Israel Science Foundation and Israel Prime Minister’s Office fuel alternatives initiative under Israel Research Center for Electrochemical Propulsion (Grant: ISF 2797/11). We also acknowledge Dr. Leon Bellan and Dr. Lior Elbaz for some use of facilities and Keith Share, Adam Cohn, Landon Oakes, Rachel Carter, Anna Douglas and Jackson Meng for useful discussions and assistance in measurements.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| BSF Prof. Rahamimoff | |
| Bloom's Syndrome Foundation | 2014041 |
| Israel Science Foundation | ISF 2797/11 |