1 research outputs found
Encapsulated, High-Performance, Stretchable Array of Stacked Planar Micro-Supercapacitors as Waterproof Wearable Energy Storage Devices
We report the fabrication of an encapsulated,
high-performance, stretchable array of stacked planar micro-supercapacitors
(MSCs) as a wearable energy storage device for waterproof applications.
A pair of planar all-solid-state MSCs with spray-coated multiwalled
carbon nanotube electrodes and a drop-cast UV-patternable ion-gel
electrolyte was fabricated on a polyethylene terephthalate film using
serial connection to increase the operation voltage of the MSC. Additionally,
multiple MSCs could be vertically stacked with parallel connections
to increase both the total capacitance and the areal capacitance owing
to the use of a solid-state patterned electrolyte. The overall device
of five parallel-connected stacked MSCs, a microlight-emitting diode
(μ-LED), and a switch was encapsulated in thin Ecoflex film
so that the capacitance remained at 82% of its initial value even
after 4 d in water; the μ-LED was lit without noticeable decrease
in brightness under deformation including bending and stretching.
Furthermore, an Ecoflex encapsulated oximeter wound around a finger
was operated using the stored energy of the MSC array attached to
the hand (even in water) to give information on arterial pulse rate
and oxygen saturation in the blood. This study suggests potential
applications of our encapsulated MSC array in wearable energy storage
devices especially in water