Structural supercapacitors with reinforced interfaces to increase multifunctional efficiency

Abstract

Embodiments of the presently disclosed technology provide improved structural supercapacitors that increase multi-functional efficiency (i.e., improve energy-storage and mechanical load-bearing capacity/performance). Structural supercapacitors of the present technology achieve such improvements in part by focusing on interfaces between structural electrodes and structural electrolytes. For example, the present technology can provide improved structural electrodes by coating carbon fiber-based structures with a uniquely stable conjugated redox polymer and a carbon-based compound. Such coating (at the interface between the structural electrode and a structural electrolyte) can improve and tensile strength for the structural electrode. The present technology can also provide improved structural electrolytes that leverage a 'gradient' configuration for a structural electrolyte where composition of the structural electrolyte is tuned such that regions of the structural electrolyte immediately adjacent to structural electrodes incorporate a higher concentration of an ion-conducting polymer and salt than “middle” regions of the structural electrolyte.