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Fabric Supercapacitor for Energy Storage

Jonathan Chen
School of Human Ecology
The University of Texas at Austin

ABSTRACT

Recent development of supercapacitor technologies attempts to shift capacitor performance from power density priority to energy density priority, so that a supercapacitor could function as a battery. However, traditional supercapacitors are commonly produced with rigid metal structures and liquid electrolytes that cause many limits to new end uses such as wearable electronics. This presentation will explicate an engineering approach to produce an all-fabric supercapacitor as a flexible energy storage device capable of being integrated into various textile products. Research progress in using different carbon materials, fabric types, and electrolyte matrixes will be discussed.

BIO

Dr. Jonathan Y. Chen has been working in the disciplinary area of textile science and engineering for over 35 years. He has expertise in structure, process, and applications of renewable and polymeric fiber materials; production and evaluation of biobased fiber composites; nonwoven and knitting technologies; and objective evaluation of apparel fabrics. His current research focuses are on functional biomaterials, smart textiles, biobased nonwoven composites for automotive interior manufacture; and carbon-based nanoscale fiber materials for energy storage, water/air filtration, protective garments, bio- and chemical-contaminant cleanup, and noise absorption and insulation. He has published over 120 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, books, and technical conference proceedings relevant to textile materials, polymers, composites, bioresource technologies, and material testing. Dr. Chen’s teaching interests cover textile science, textile/apparel manufacturing, biopolymers and biobased fibers, healthcare and medical textiles, and textile numerical modeling. Dr. Chen obtained Ph.D. in Textile Engineering in 1995 from The University of Leeds, England. Currently he is a full professor in the School of Human Ecology and the Texas Materials Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Chen is Fellow of The Textile Institute, Senior Member of The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, and Member of The Fiber Society.