A carbon fiber lamina electrode based on macroporous epoxy with vertical ion channels for structural battery composites. (15th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qi, Guocheng; Cui, Qian; Zhang, Boming; Du, Shanyi
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 304:Part 1(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-15
• Subjects: Carbon fibers -- Structural battery composites -- Structural battery electrolytes -- Electrochemical performances -- Mechanical properties; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.116425
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: Structural battery (SB) composites based on carbon fibers (CFs) are promising multifunctional composite materials to simultaneously realize load-bearing and electrical energy storage. Conventional structural battery electrolytes (SBEs) have bicontinuous phase microstructure characteristics, which makes a further considerable improvement in both mechanical and electrochemical performance of structural batteries rather challenging. Herein, a novel SBE with vertical ion channels in the form of patterned macropores was developed by photolithography based on the UV-initiated cationic polymerization, which was subsequently used in the fabrication of the CF half-cell lamina. The mechanical and electrochemical properties were characterized for both SBE and SB half-cells. The Young's modulus and ionic conductivity of the porous epoxy post-filled with liquid electrolyte were 1.2 GPa and 3.7 mS/cm, respectively, which exceeded the state-of-art multifunctional performances of bicontinuous SBEs. The specific capacity of the SB half-cell could reach 222 ± 10 mAh/g (2nd) at 0.17C, while the tensile modulus of the CF half-cell lamina was 66 ± 4 GPa ( V f = 22.5 %). This work could provide new insights into a microstructural design for structural batteries towards high multifunctional performances.