Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
737141 Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 2013 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

Mechanically bendable energy storage devices have been demonstrated based on a lift-off and liquid densification process to construct carbon nanotube (CNT) forests with built-in bottom metal electrodes on top of a flexible substrate. The flexible CNT structure has been fabricated and tested as a supercapacitor electrode with the following salient features: (1) excellent transfer of charge from the aligned CNTs to the bottom contact metal layer, (2) a simple and straightforward fabrication process, and (3) easy integration with a variety of surfaces and topographies. Experimental results have shown that a 5 mm × 10 mm electrode with 40 μm-thick CNT forest and 50 nm-thick molybdenum bottom metal contact has been transferred from a silicon growth substrate onto a 200 μm-thick Al/Thermanox™ plastic substrate. The attached film survived the bending of as large as 180°. A measured specific capacitance of 7.0 mF/cm2 has been achieved. Repeated mechanical bending tests followed by CV cyclic measurements have shown good device stability. As such, flexible energy storage devices composed of CNT forests with built-in metal electrodes could have broad applications in modern systems that demand components with adaptable shapes to fit into small form factors and ergonomic designs.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Electrochemistry
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