Multifunctional Structural-energy Storage Nanocomposites for Ultra Lightweight Micro Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. ii REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGEForm Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)February 2013 ARL-TR-6366 SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S) DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENTApproved for public release; distribution unlimited. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTA key concern in the design of micro autonomous vehicles is an onboard energy supply that is able to satisfy system power requirements while also limiting the mass/volume burden to the platform. The conventional solution is to increase the energy density of the power supply, typically a commercial battery. Another approach is to replace single-function structural components with multifunctional structural energy storage materials to supplement the main power supply. Here we report on the use of flexible carbon nanotube (CNT)-based composites for multifunctional structural energy storage applications. Supercapacitors were fabricated from aligned and non-aligned CNT-based polymer composites and were subject to electrical and mechanical characterization. In addition, an electromechanical characterization technique was used to explore the multifunctional behavior of the solid-state flexible supercapacitors. Initial tests showed that the specific capacitance of the composite materials increased by approximately 10% as the structure was subject to a 2% mechanical strain. These preliminary results indicate that these multifunctional solid-state composites could potentially replace micro vehicle flexible structural components, supplement system power requirements, and ultimately increase platform endurance. SUBJECT TERMS

Performance of activated carbons synthesized from fruit dehydration biowastes for supercapacitor applications

“…These results prove that the AC‐CSOS and AC‐BSOS electrodes possess the required electrochemical reversibility and charge/discharge capabilities . These curves show a typical symmetric charge/discharge behavior and are similar to those reported in the literature for EDLCs fabricated from ACs, and other high surface area carbons materials such as graphene . The drop in voltage due to ESR for the AC‐CSOS and AC‐BSOS was 0.145 V and 0.196 V, respectively.…”

“…Consequently, the supercapacitors with lower self‐discharge characteristics are naturally desired. The self‐discharge behavior of the AC‐CSOS and AC‐BSOS supercapacitors were measured using the methodology typically completed by other researchers . The 9th, 10th and 11th cycles out of 75 cycles of the voltage decay tests for AC‐CSOS and AC‐BSOS supercapacitors are shown in Figure .…”