Structural Composite Capacitors, Supercapacitors, and Batteries for U.S. Army Applications

Structural capacitors, supercapacitors, and batteries are fabricated and tested, using modified materials and processes based on conventional fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. Printed circuit board prepregs are used to create structural capacitors that demonstrate good dielectric energy density and mechanical stiffness and strength. Structural supercapacitors are created using carbon fabric electrodes and a liquid-plasticized, epoxy polymer electrolyte. A similar construction is used to create structural batteries, by substituting LiFePO₄-coated carbon fiber fabric as cathodes opposed to unmodified carbon fiber anodes. Structural batteries and supercapacitors show basic electrochemical and mechanical functionality. However, significant additional work is required to improve their quantitative performance to values of practical engineering value.