Center for Low-Emission Transport, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Author
Helmut Kühnelt
Center for Low-Emission Transport, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
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Abstract
Full cells of structural composite batteries comprising carbon fibre reinforced anodes and cathodes decorated with lithium titanate and LiNi0.3Mn0.3Co0.3O2 (NMC111), respectively, embedded in a polymer gel electrolyte were produced. Spread carbon fibres were coated with cathode and anode active materials followed by impregnation with a polymer gel electrolyte consisting of PVDF particles dispersed in an ionic liquid containing a lithium salt. The resulting carbon fibre reinforced electrodes/polymer gel electrolyte prepregs could be easily stored, handled or, if needed, transported. Cathode and anode prepregs were laminated and fused by compression moulding, resulting within a time frame of couple of minutes in full cell structural composite batteries. The batteries were charged and discharged at current densities of 0.1C, resulting in a specific capacity of 35 mAh/gNMC111 and energy density of 5.6 Wh/(kg battery). The composite batteries had a Young's modulus of 4.6 GPa and tensile strength of 32 MPa. A facile layup process enabled proof-of-concept demonstration of ‘all’ carbon fibre full cell multifunctional structural composite batteries.