Flexible Microsupercapacitors Using Silk and Cotton Substrates
Chayanika Das1, Kothandam Krishnamoorthy1
1Polymers and Advanced Materials Laboratory, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, CSIR-Network of Institutes for Solar Energy , Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 8, 2016
Summary
Flexible microsupercapacitors (MSCs) were fabricated using gold-coated silk fibers. These wearable devices demonstrate high capacitance and energy density, maintaining performance even when coiled.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Flexible microsupercapacitors (MSCs) are crucial for powering small wearable electronics.
- Natural silk fibers are insulating and require conductive modification for MSC fabrication.
- Green tea polyphenols offer a sustainable method for creating conductive nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop flexible microsupercapacitors using modified natural fibers.
- To investigate the conductivity and mechanical properties of gold-coated silk fibers.
- To evaluate the electrochemical performance and flexibility of the fabricated MSCs.
Main Methods:
- Silk fibers were coated with gold nanoparticles using green tea polyphenols as a reducing agent.
- Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was used as the active material for pseudocapacitance.
- Electrochemical performance (capacitance, energy, and power density) was measured for coiled and uncoiled devices.
Main Results:
- Gold coating imparted conductivity to silk fibers with minimal impact on mechanical strength (5 GPa vs. 5.2 GPa).
- MSCs achieved a gravimetric capacitance of 500 F/g and areal capacitance of 62 mF/cm².
- The devices maintained performance when coiled and demonstrated scalability through series/parallel connections.
Conclusions:
- Gold-coated silk fibers provide a promising platform for flexible energy storage.
- The fabrication method is adaptable to other natural fibers like cotton.
- These flexible MSCs are suitable for powering advanced wearable electronic applications.
