Elastic Fiber Electrode for Wearable Supercapacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micro-supercapacitors face challenges with low elasticity, high manufacturing costs, and limited applicability due to stiffness and complexity in production, making them unsuitable for flexible and wearable electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A flexible elastic fiber electrode is developed by coating a high-density carbon nanotube sheet on a polymer fiber, forming a coiled structure with a wrinkled surface, and depositing manganese dioxide, allowing for high elasticity and electrochemical performance while maintaining capacitance under deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal wires are added to electrode for electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but stiffness and rigidity increase making it unsuitable for wearable electronic fabrics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from traditional metal wires to conductive polymer coating, fundamentally altering the physical properties to achieve both conductivity and flexibility. The conductive polymer maintains electrical conductivity while eliminating the stiffness and rigidity of metal wires, enabling wearable applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining conductive polymer material with the electrode substrate. This composite approach integrates the electrical conductivity function with the flexibility requirement, creating a material system that exhibits both properties simultaneously rather than choosing one over the other.
2Strength
If twist-spun yarn super-capacitor using carbon nanotubes is manufactured, then pore structure and strength are improved, but elasticity is low causing breakage at 10% elongation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material composition parameter by replacing or supplementing rigid carbon nanotube structures with flexible conductive polymer materials. This parameter change transforms the mechanical properties from brittle and rigid to flexible and elastic, allowing the electrode to withstand deformation without breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a thin film structure of conductive polymer coating on the electrode. This thin film approach provides flexibility and elasticity while maintaining structural integrity, allowing the electrode to deform elastically rather than breaking under stress.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wet spun graphene or carbon nanotube composite fibers are used, then elasticity is improved, but preparation process becomes complicated requiring high-temperature and high-pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a conductive polymer coating process that is simpler and less resource-intensive than wet spinning methods. The coating approach requires no high-temperature or high-pressure conditions, eliminating the need for complex equipment and energy-intensive processes while achieving the desired elastic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical wet spinning process with a simpler coating process. Instead of using high-temperature and high-pressure mechanical processing to create elastic composite fibers, the invention applies a conductive polymer coating that inherently provides elasticity through its material properties and film structure.
4Reliability
If yarn-type micro-supercapacitor is manufactured by coiling hybrid membrane, then electrochemical characteristics are improved, but manufacturing process becomes sensitive and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary coating of the conductive polymer on the electrode substrate before any coiling or assembly steps. This preliminary action ensures that the electrode has the required electrochemical properties built-in from the start, eliminating the need for sensitive post-processing adjustments and simplifying subsequent manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive polymer coating serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical conductivity, enhances electrochemical activity, and provides mechanical flexibility. This multi-functionality consolidates several requirements into a single material layer, simplifying the overall manufacturing process by eliminating the need for separate components or complex assembly procedures.
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 elastic fiber electrode and micro-supercapacitor exhibit high current density, excellent capacitance retention, and stability across various deformations, enabling wide-ranging applications such as rotary actuators and wearable electronics.
Implementation Method 1
coating a conductive carbon nanotube sheet on a polymer fiber
Implementation Method 2
on which manganese dioxide is deposited
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an elastic fiber electrode including a hybrid fiber prepared by coating a carbon nanotube sheet on a polymer fiber, in which the hybrid fiber is in a yarn form having a coiled structure, and the carbon nanotube sheet makes a wrinkled surface, and a coil- or spring-type elastic fiber electrode manufactured by coiling a hybrid nanofiber prepared by coating a carbon nanotube sheet on a polymer fiber has excellent mechanical and electrical properties. In particular, the elastic fiber electrode has increased porosity by depositing manganese dioxide on a surface thereof, thereby enhancing electrochemical performance. Thus, a micro-supercapacitor using the elastic fiber electrode has high current density and excellent capacitance retention, may maintain the electrochemical characteristics even after being subjected to various deformations, such as bending, coiling, or weaving, and has high elasticity and reversible behaviors, thus providing stable capacitance.