Robust Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube‐Infiltrated Carbon Fiber Electrodes for Structural Supercapacitors: from Reductive Dissolution to High Performance Devices
Abstract
Multifunctional electrodes for structural supercapacitors are prepared by vacuum infiltration of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into woven carbon fibers (CFs); the use of reductive charging chemistry to form nanotubide solutions ensured a high degree of individualization. The route is highly versatile, as shown by comparing four different commercial nanotube feedstocks. In film form, the pure nanotubide networks (“buckypapers”) are highly conductive (up to 2000 S cm−1) with high surface area (>1000 m2 g−1) and great electrochemical performance (capacitance of 101 F g−1, energy density of 27.5 Wh kg−1 and power density of 135 kW kg−1). Uniformly integrating these SWCNT networks throughout the CF fabrics significantly increased electrical conductivity (up to 318 S cm−1), surface area (up to 196 m2 g−1), and in‐plane shear properties, all simultaneously. The CNT‐infiltrated CFs electrodes exhibited intrinsically high specific energy (2.6–4.2 Wh kg−1) and power (6.0–8.7 kW kg−1) densities in pure 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIM TFSI) electrolyte. Multifunctional structural supercapacitors based on CNT‐coated CFs offer a substantial increase in capacitive performance while maintaining the tensile mechanical properties of the as‐received CF‐based composite. This non‐damaging approach to modify CFs with highly graphitic, high surface area nanocarbons provides a new route to structural energy storage systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1002/adfm.202212697
Entities
People
- David B. Anthony
- Emile S Greenhalgh
- Evgeny Senokos
- Maria Crespo Ribadeneyra
- Milo S. P. Shaffer
- Noelia Rubio
Organizations
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Horizon 2020
- Imperial College London
- Queen Mary University of London
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- University of Alcalá