Flexible all-fiber electrospun supercapacitor
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We present an all-fiber flexible supercapacitor with composite nanofiber electrodes made via electrospinning and an electrospun separator. With the addition of manganese acetylacetonate (MnACAC) to polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a precursor for the electrospinning process and subsequent heat treatment, the performance of pure PAN supercapacitors was improved from 90 F.g-1 to 200 F.g-1 (2.5 mV.s-1) with possible mass loadings of MnACAC demonstrated as high as 40 wt%. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that after thermal treatment, the MnACAC was converted to MnO, meanwile, the thermal decomposition of MnACAC increased the graphitic degree of the carbonised PAN. Scanning electron microscopy and image processing showed that static electrospinning of pure PAN and PAN-Mn resulted in fiber diameters of 460 nm and 480 nm respectively after carbonisation. Further analysis showed that the fiber orientation exhibited a slight bias which was amplified with the addition of MnACAC. Use of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy tomography also showed that MnO particles were evenly distributed through the fiber at low MnACAC concentrations, while at a 40 wt% loading the MnO particles were also visible on the surface. Comparison of the electrospun separators showed improved performance relative to a commercial Celgard separator (200 F.g-1 vs 141 F.g-1).
Date Issued
2018-04-01
Date Acceptance
2018-02-25
Citation
Journal of Power Sources, 2018, 384, pp.264-269
ISSN
0378-7753
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
264
End Page
269
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Power Sources
Volume
384
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/K002252/1
J15119 - PO:500174140
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Electrochemistry
Energy & Fuels
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Materials Science
Electrospinning
Supercapacitor
Nanofiber
Manganese oxide
Separator
POROUS CARBON NANOFIBERS
ENERGY-CONVERSION
HIGH-PERFORMANCE
ION BATTERY
POLYACRYLONITRILE
COMPOSITES
SEPARATORS
STORAGE
09 Engineering
03 Chemical Sciences
Energy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-03-23