Multifunctional Carbon Fiber Composites: A Structural, Energy Harvesting, Strain-Sensing Material
Journal article, 2022

Multifunctional structural materials are capable of reducing system level mass and increasing efficiency in load carrying structures. Materials that are capable of harvesting energy from the surrounding environment are advantageous for autonomous electrically powered systems. However, most energy harvesting materials are non-structural and add parasitic mass, reducing structural efficiency. Here, we show a structural energy harvesting composite material consisting of two carbon fiber (CF) layers embedded in a structural battery electrolyte (SBE) with a longitudinal modulus of 100 GPa-almost on par with commercial CF pre-pregs. Energy is harvested through mechanical deformations using the piezo-electrochemical transducer (PECT) effect in lithiated CFs. The PECT effect creates a voltage difference between the two CF layers, driving a current when deformed. A specific power output of 18 nW/g is achieved. The PECT effect in the lithiated CFs is observed in tension and compression and can be used for strain sensing, enabling structural health monitoring with low added mass. The same material has previously been shown capable of shape morphing. The two additional functionalities presented here result in a material capable of four functions, further demonstrating the diverse possibilities for CF/SBE composites in multifunctional applications in the future.

electro-mechanical behavior

multifunctional composites

carbon fibers

sensing

piezoelectrochemical transducer effect

Author

Ross Harnden

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

David Carlstedt

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Material and Computational Mechanics

Dan Zenkert

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Göran Lindbergh

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

1944-8244 (ISSN) 1944-8252 (eISSN)

Vol. In Press

Subject Categories

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Materials Chemistry

Composite Science and Engineering

DOI

10.1021/acsami.2c08375

PubMed

35820025

More information

Latest update

10/30/2023