Anurangi Jayani, Jeewantha Janitha, Shebl Hazem, Herath Madhubhashitha, Epaarachchi Jayantha
School of Engineering, Faculty of Health Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
Centre for Future Materials, Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
Polymers (Basel). 2025 Aug 31;17(17):2380. doi: 10.3390/polym17172380.
Over the last few decades, polymer composites have been rapidly making inroads in critical applications of electrical storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. Structural supercapacitor composites (SSCs) have emerged as multifunctional materials capable of storing energy while bearing mechanical loads, offering lightweight and compact solutions for energy systems. This study investigates the functionalization of Bisphenol A-based thermosetting polymers with ionic liquids, aiming to synthesize dual-functional structural electrolytes for SSC fabrication. A multifunctional sandwich structure was subsequently fabricated, in which the fabricated SSC served as the core layer, bonded between two structurally robust outer skins. The core layer was fabricated using carbon fibre layers coated with 10% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), while the skin layers contained 0.25% GNPs dispersed in the resin matrix. The developed device demonstrated stable operation up to 85 °C, achieving a specific capacitance of 57.28 mFcm and an energy density of 179 mWhm at room temperature. The performance doubled at 85 °C, maintaining excellent capacitance retentions across all experimented temperatures. The flexural strength of the developed sandwich SSC at elevated temperature (at 85 °C) was 71 MPa, which exceeds the minimum requirement for roofing sheets as specified in Australian building standard AS 4040.1 (Methods of testing sheet roof and wall cladding, Method 1: Resistance to concentrated loads). Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed using Abaqus CAE to evaluate structural integrity under mechanical loading and predict damage initiation zones under service conditions. The simulation was based on Hashin's failure criteria and demonstrated reasonable accuracy. This research highlights the potential of multifunctional polymer composite systems in renewable energy infrastructure, offering a robust and energy-efficient material solution aligned with circular economy and sustainability goals.
在过去几十年中，聚合物复合材料已迅速进入电池和超级电容器等蓄电装置的关键应用领域。结构超级电容器复合材料（SSC）已成为一种多功能材料，能够在承受机械载荷的同时储存能量，为能源系统提供轻质紧凑的解决方案。本研究探讨了基于双酚A的热固性聚合物与离子液体的功能化，旨在合成用于制造SSC的双功能结构电解质。随后制备了一种多功能夹层结构，其中制造的SSC作为核心层，粘结在两个结构坚固的外皮之间。核心层由涂有10%石墨烯纳米片（GNP）的碳纤维层制成，而皮层含有分散在树脂基体中的0.25%GNP。所开发的器件在高达85°C的温度下表现出稳定运行，在室温下实现了57.28 mF/cm²的比电容和179 mWh/m³的能量密度。在85°C时性能翻倍，在所有实验温度下均保持优异的电容保持率。所开发的夹层SSC在高温（85°C）下的弯曲强度为71 MPa，超过了澳大利亚建筑标准AS 4040.1（屋面和墙面覆层测试方法，方法1：抗集中载荷）规定的屋面板最低要求。使用Abaqus CAE进行了有限元分析（FEA），以评估机械载荷下的结构完整性并预测使用条件下的损伤起始区域。该模拟基于Hashin失效准则，具有合理的准确性。本研究突出了多功能聚合物复合材料系统在可再生能源基础设施中的潜力，提供了一种符合循环经济和可持续发展目标的坚固且节能的材料解决方案。
