Solution-Blown Aligned Nanofiber Yarn and Its Application in Yarn-Shaped Supercapacitor

Abstract

Yarn-shaped supercapacitors with great flexibility are highly anticipated for smart wearable devices. Herein, a device for continuously producing oriented nanofiber yarn based on solution blowing was invented, which was important for the nanofiber yarn electrode to realize mass production. Further, the yarn-shaped supercapacitor was assembled by the yarn electrode with the polypyrrole (PPy) grown on aligned carbon fiber bundles@Polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (CFs@PAN NFs). Electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the yarn electrode can be improved by the carbon fiber bundles. The specific surface area of the yarn electrode can be enlarged by PPy. The yarn-shaped supercapacitors assembled by the PVA/LiCl/H3PO4 gel electrolyte showed high areal specific capacitance of 353 mF cm−2 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, and the energy density was 48 μWh cm−2 when the power density was 247 μW cm−2. The supercapacitors also exhibited terrific cycle stability (82% after 20,000 cycles). We also proved that this yarn-shaped supercapacitor could easily power up the light emitting diode. This yarn-shaped supercapacitor was meaningful for the development of the smart wearable devices, especially when combined with clothing or fabrics.

Optimization of the preparation process of electrostatic-solution blow spinning nanofiber yarn using response surface methodology

“…In the spinning process, the airflow field provokes the rapid evaporation of the solvent, which further stretches the fibers and arranges them more orderly, and increasing the winding speed reduces the fiber content in the fiber bundle directly. 16,24,29 Under the combined effect of both parameters, the yarn diameter becomes thinner. However, the excessive airflow instead destroys the ordering of the fibers in the triangular inverted cone and makes the yarn thicker.…”

State-of-the-art review of advanced electrospun nanofiber yarn-based textiles for biomedical applications

“…The design and construction of flexible, yarn-shaped supercapacitors are of remarkabe importance to realize the miniaturization and wearability of supercapacitors, which have been widely explored as innovative electrical storage devices for supplying electrical power for smart wearable electronics. Conductive electrospun NYs have been widely fabricated for use as the electrodes of yarn-shaped supercapacitors [ 43 , [209] , [210] , [211] ]. In one study, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and electrospun PAN-GO nanofibers were utilized to coat Ni-deposited cotton yarn, and the as-fabricated coverspun yarns were further deposited with PPy, as the capacitor electrodes, and then accompanied with PVA/H 2 SO 4 electrolytes to obtain a yarn-like supercapacitors [209] .…”

“…The capacitance properties were relatively low. In another study, electrospun PAN nanofiber-coated carbon microfiber coverspun yarns were first developed, and a conductive polymer, PPy, was deposited onto the surface of coverspun yarns [43] . The PPy/PAN/Carbon yarns were then employed as electrodes to construct a yarn-shaped supercapacitor with the assembling of PVA/LiCl/H 3 PO 4 gel electrolytes.…”

“…Some figure elements were rearranged and reprinted with permissions from Refs. [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] . …”

Self-Healing and Highly Stretchable Hydrogel for Interfacial Compatible Flexible Paper-Based Micro-Supercapacitor

“…Such faults seriously restrict the applicability and reliability [5]. Meanwhile, the heavy weight of conventional supercapacitors limits the flexibility of electronics [6,7]. Thus, requirements for portable applications call for miniaturization, mechanical stability, flexibility and interfacial adhesion capability to construct flexibility electronics.…”