Abstract
Multifunctional energy storage devices could prevent catastrophic failure in batteries or act as structural elements in vehicles, such electric cars and unmanned aerial vehicles, by simultaneously dissipating energy and bearing a load. Graphene is particularly interesting for multifunctional energy storage devices. Graphene paper has exhibited high stiffness (41.8 GPa) and graphene based supercapacitors have shown high capacity (205 F/g). However, mechano-electro-chemical coupling in multifunctional materials is largely unexplored. Herein we report on multifunctional composite electrodes consisting of graphene, aramid nanofibers (ANFs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using vacuum-assisted self-assembly. CNTs were used to prevent graphene agglomeration and improve through plane conductivity. ANFs are nanoscale building blocks created from Kevlar thread, which is well known for its extremely high stiffness and strength. We hypothesize that the ANFs reinforce the composite and improve mechanical properties. The effects of CNTs and ANFs are explored by varying the amount of each component present in the composite. Electrochemical performance is evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge while mechanical performance is evaluated using tensile testing. Finally, plans for testing mechano-electro-chemical coupling are discussed.
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