ENABLING MULTIFUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE: MECHANICAL CHARACTERISATION OF A THIN PLY STRUCTURAL SUPERCAPACITOR LAMINATE
Topic(s) : Special Sessions
Co-authors :
Odysseas KAKARELIDIS (UNITED KINGDOM), Emily CHENG (UNITED KINGDOM), Dominic R. PALUBISKI (UNITED KINGDOM), Dmitriy IVANOV (UNITED KINGDOM), Emile GREENHALGH (UNITED KINGDOM), Sang NGUYEN (UNITED KINGDOM)Abstract :
Structural power composites represent a revolutionary step in structural and electrochemical applications, combining load-bearing capabilities with electrical energy storage, marking a significant advancement in multifunctional materials. The development of such multifunctional composites is of paramount importance toward the realisation of lighter and more efficient systems. Among these materials, structural supercapacitors emerge as a distinct class offering a unique combination of mechanical properties and high-power densities [1].
The architecture of structural supercapacitors mirrors that of conventional electrical double-layer capacitors; it is comprised of two carbon fibre-based electrodes, equipped with current collectors on their surfaces, sandwiching one or more separator layers. This composite laminate is infused with a structural electrolyte, usually a mixture of ionic liquid and structural epoxy resin [1].
Given the field's early stage of development, multiple challenges arise in gathering and analysing data for multifunctional materials; there is a considerable disparity in the strategies employed to characterise the electrochemical and mechanical performance of such devices. The primary conclusion of a recently published comprehensive review highlighted the necessity for standardised methodologies to characterise and evaluate structural supercapacitors [1]. Aiming to bridge this gap, this study seeks to quantify the multifunctional performance of the most recent generation of structural supercapacitor composites that have successfully been integrated into C-section beams demonstrators [2].
The structural supercapacitor constituents used in this work consisted of carbon aerogel-reinforced carbon fibre spread tow fabrics (CAGCF), and a polyester-ceramic separator. Based on the protocol developed by a past study [3], the examined configurations included: the monolithic carbon laminate featuring two symmetrically arranged CAGCF plies; the monofunctional laminate where the structural electrolyte is substituted with solely structural epoxy resin; and, drawing from recent research [2], a practical variant of the monofunctional device wherein, instead of complete resin infusion, patterned epoxy droplets are applied to the CAGCF layers, achieving bonding at specific points. This epoxy droplet configuration was adopted due to the phase separation and compatibility issues the structural electrolyte faced with the nanoscale carbon aerogel pores in earlier studies [4]. Mechanical characterisation of the laminates included longitudinal tensile and in-plane shear tests to gain an understanding of the behavior dominated by the CAGCF and the interface/matrix, respectively.
The exploration of these configurations is expected to significantly enhance our understanding of structural supercapacitors’ monofunctional constituents, leading to the development of more advanced, mechanically robust and efficient alternatives for structural power composites.
The architecture of structural supercapacitors mirrors that of conventional electrical double-layer capacitors; it is comprised of two carbon fibre-based electrodes, equipped with current collectors on their surfaces, sandwiching one or more separator layers. This composite laminate is infused with a structural electrolyte, usually a mixture of ionic liquid and structural epoxy resin [1].
Given the field's early stage of development, multiple challenges arise in gathering and analysing data for multifunctional materials; there is a considerable disparity in the strategies employed to characterise the electrochemical and mechanical performance of such devices. The primary conclusion of a recently published comprehensive review highlighted the necessity for standardised methodologies to characterise and evaluate structural supercapacitors [1]. Aiming to bridge this gap, this study seeks to quantify the multifunctional performance of the most recent generation of structural supercapacitor composites that have successfully been integrated into C-section beams demonstrators [2].
The structural supercapacitor constituents used in this work consisted of carbon aerogel-reinforced carbon fibre spread tow fabrics (CAGCF), and a polyester-ceramic separator. Based on the protocol developed by a past study [3], the examined configurations included: the monolithic carbon laminate featuring two symmetrically arranged CAGCF plies; the monofunctional laminate where the structural electrolyte is substituted with solely structural epoxy resin; and, drawing from recent research [2], a practical variant of the monofunctional device wherein, instead of complete resin infusion, patterned epoxy droplets are applied to the CAGCF layers, achieving bonding at specific points. This epoxy droplet configuration was adopted due to the phase separation and compatibility issues the structural electrolyte faced with the nanoscale carbon aerogel pores in earlier studies [4]. Mechanical characterisation of the laminates included longitudinal tensile and in-plane shear tests to gain an understanding of the behavior dominated by the CAGCF and the interface/matrix, respectively.
The exploration of these configurations is expected to significantly enhance our understanding of structural supercapacitors’ monofunctional constituents, leading to the development of more advanced, mechanically robust and efficient alternatives for structural power composites.