Cord-Yarn Supercapacitor for Flexible Wearable Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage devices for wearable applications face challenges in being lightweight, compact, and mechanically flexible due to difficulties in integrating energy storage materials into textiles, leading to issues with connections, bulkiness, and safety.
Innovation Solution
The development of cord-yarn supercapacitors, which consist of twisted activated and non-activated carbon fiber yarns coated with a polymer gel electrolyte, providing high specific length and gravimetric capacitance, and can be modified with nanoparticles for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional batteries are directly overlaid onto textiles or energy storage materials are coated on fabrics, then energy storage capability is improved, but the device becomes bulky and mechanically inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor is segmented into cord-yarn structures that can be individually spun and then assembled into fabrics. This segmentation allows the energy storage function to be distributed throughout the textile structure rather than adding bulky external components, resolving the contradiction between energy storage capability and mechanical flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention embeds energy storage materials within the textile fiber structure itself, nesting the functional components inside the yarns. This nested arrangement eliminates the need for separate battery compartments and connections, reducing bulkiness while maintaining energy storage capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If energy storage materials are incorporated into textiles, then wearable energy storage is improved, but connection and safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the energy storage function with the textile structure by spinning active materials into the yarns themselves. This consolidation eliminates separate electrical connections and encapsulates the energy storage components within the fabric, improving reliability by removing vulnerable connection points while enabling wearable applications.
3Weight of moving object
If lightweight and compact energy storage devices are created, then wearability is improved, but energy storage capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses thin-film polymer gel electrolytes and flexible cord-yarn structures that provide high energy storage capability per unit weight. The thin-film approach eliminates bulky liquid electrolyte containers while maintaining sufficient ionic conductivity, resolving the contradiction between lightweight design and energy storage capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cord-yarn supercapacitors achieve high energy storage capabilities with flexibility and durability, allowing for the creation of wearable energy storage devices that are lightweight, compact, and maintain performance under various angles and bending cycles.
Implementation Method 1
supercapacitors store it on the surface of their electrodes
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte can be in the form of a polymer gel
Data Source
AI summary
Cord-yarn supercapacitors are disclosed herein. The cord-yarn supercapacitor can include two or more ply yarns twisted together and an electrolyte. The ply yarns can comprise an activated carbon fiber yarn and a non-activated carbon fiber yarn. The activated carbon fiber yarn can be derived from a staple yarn which has been carbonized and activated. The non-activated carbon fiber yarn can be derived from a multi filament yarn. The electrolyte can include a polymer gel. The cord-yarn supercapacitors disclosed herein provide a rope-format linear structure with great flexibility. This unique linear structure allows the supercapacitor to find use in applications such as apparel products, outdoor activity products, sports wears, and other industrial end uses. Methods of making cord-yarn supercapacitors are also disclosed.