Engineering materials that can store electrical energy in structural load paths can revolutionize lightweight design across transport modes. Stiff and strong batteries that use solid‐state electrolytes and resilient electrodes and separators are generally lacking. Herein, a structural battery composite with unprecedented multifunctional performance is demonstrated, featuring an energy density of 24 Wh kg−1 and an elastic modulus of 25 GPa and tensile strength exceeding 300 MPa. The structural battery is made from multifunctional constituents, where reinforcing carbon fibers (CFs) act as electrode and current collector. A structural electrolyte is used for load transfer and ion transport and a glass fiber fabric separates the CF electrode from an aluminum foil‐supported lithium–iron–phosphate positive electrode. Equipped with these materials, lighter electrical cars, aircraft, and consumer goods can be pursued.
Multifunctional materials facilitate lightweight and slender structural solutions for numerous applications. In transportation, construction materials that can act as a battery, and store electrical energy, will contribute to realization of highly energy efficient vehicles and aircraft. Herein, a multicell structural battery composite laminate, with three state-of-the-art structural battery composite cells connected in series is demonstrated. The experimental results show that the capacity of the structural battery composite cells is only moderately affected by tensile loading up to 0.36% strain. The multicell structural battery laminate is made embedding the three connected structural battery composite cells between carbon fiber/glass fiber composite face sheets. Electrochemical performance of the multicell structural battery is demonstrated experimentally.High charge transfer resistance for the pack as well as the individual cells is reported. Mechanical performance of the structural battery laminate is estimated by classical laminate theory. Computed engineering in-plane moduli for the multicell structural battery laminate are on par with conventional glass fiber composite multiaxial laminates.
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