Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 16: Energy Storage and Batteries I

CPP 16.1: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 09:30–10:00, H34

Multifunctional structural batteries — •Göran Lindbergh — KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

A multifunctional lightweight material combines several functions in a single material entity able to simultaneously bear mechanical loads by acting as a carbon fibre composite component while providing one or more other functionalities at the same time, e.g. storing energy. In this work, we will show functionalities coming from alkali ion insertion in carbon fibres that goes beyond the battery function, and how these functions can be combined in a single device.

The starting point for these concepts is so called structural batteries, which are multifunctional composite materials able to carry load while storing electrical energy like lithium-ion batteries. In such a battery, carbon fibres are used as the load carrying material thanks to their excellent strength and stiffness properties, but also as the active negative electrode. They also include a multifunctional matrix system, a structural battery electrolyte (SBE), the material holding the fibres together to make a solid-state load carrying material, but which at the same time is ionically conductive and chemically stable. It includes a multifunctional positive electrode, a composite electrode based on conventional ion inserting materials like lithium iron phosphate (LFP) supported by electrochemically active carbon fibres for load carrying and electrical conduction. This device can then also be used for inherent strain sensing in the material and can also be made to shape-morph with electrical control at low voltages and for harvesting energy by converting mechanical strain to electrical power.

Keywords: Structural batteries; Multifunctional; Energy harvesting; Morphing; Carbon fibres