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Abstract Structural supercapacitors that simultaneously bear mechanical loads and store electrical energy have exciting potential for enhancing the efficiency of various mobile systems. However, a significant hurdle in developing practical structural supercapacitors is the inherent trade‐off between their mechanical properties and electrochemical capabilities, particularly within their electrolytes. This study demonstrates a tough polymer electrolyte with enhanced multifunctionality made through the controlled hydration of a solid polymer electrolyte with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and lithium salts. Characterization via differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the consistent amorphous solid solution phase in varying salt concentrations, whether dried or hydrated. Electrochemical tests and tensile tests are performed to evaluate the ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of these electrolytes. The results indicate that the strategic incorporation of water in the polymer electrolyte significantly enhances the ionic conductivity while preserving its mechanical properties. A specific composition demonstrated a remarkable increase in ionic conductivity (3.11 µS cm−1) coupled with superior toughness (15.4 MJ m−3), significantly surpassing the base polymer. These findings open new horizons for integrating electrochemical functionality into structural polymers without compromising their mechanical properties. Additionally, the paper reports the successful fabrication and testing of structural supercapacitor prototypes combining carbon fibers with fabricated electrolytes, showcasing their potential for diverse applications.
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This content will become publicly available on October 28, 2026
Innovative Symmetrical Electrolyte Architecture Enables Ultra‐Flat and Thermal Resilient Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells
Abstract Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) represent a promising class of solid‐state energy conversion devices capable of high‐efficiency hydrogen production and power generation. However, the practical deployment of planar PCECs is fundamentally constrained by severe structural deformation and mechanical failure during fabrication, stemming from asymmetric shrinkage between the thin electrolyte and the thick NiO‐based support layer. In this work, a functionally integrated, symmetry‐engineered double‐sided electrolyte (DE) design is unveiled, which not only suppresses thermally induced curvature but also unlocks significant gains in electrochemical performance and stability. This architecture intrinsically balances shrinkage dynamics across the cell bilaterally, enabling the fabrication of ultra‐flat 5 × 5 cm2cells with sub‐100 µm thickness variation. A numerical solid mechanics simulation is introduced to investigate and interpret this achievement. Beyond structural advantages, the DE configuration enhances the cell operational stability, delivering a low open‐circuit voltage degradation of 9.5 mV/100 h across 80 thermal cycles. This work establishes a compelling paradigm wherein architectural symmetry directly translates to both mechanical fidelity and functional enhancement, offering a promising route toward PCECs scale‐up.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1832809
- PAR ID:
- 10649307
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Functional Materials
- ISSN:
- 1616-301X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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