Thin, Uniform, and Highly Packed Multifunctional Structural Carbon Fiber Composite Battery Lamina Informed by Solid...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Structural Engineering

Background:

• Multifunctional structural batteries integrate load-bearing and energy storage, offering reduced weight and enhanced safety.
• Commercialization is hindered by challenges in materials processing, assembly, and design optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a carbon fiber (CF)-based structural battery using epoxy-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE).
• To optimize materials processing for enhanced multifunctional performance.

Main Methods:

• Vacuum-assisted compression molding (VACM) for impregnating carbon fiber laminae with SPE.
• Cure kinetics analysis to inform SPE processing.
• Fabrication of a CF/SPE battery with a hybrid ionic liquid (IL)/carbonate electrolyte (CE).

Main Results:

• Achieved a ~160% enhancement in fiber volume fraction (FVF) with optimal fiber packing and low void content.
• SPE processing without fillers or additives improved multifunctional performance.
• The hybrid IL/CE demonstrated enhanced safety and performance.

Conclusions:

• A systematic approach using VACM and optimized SPE processing led to advanced CF-based structural batteries.
• The developed materials exhibit high fiber volume fraction and low void content.
• This work advances multifunctional structures, promoting sustainable commercialization.