Tin Powers Wearable Supercapacitor Fabrics

SEATTLE (ITRI.CO.UK): Tin oxide nanoparticles can store electrical energy in wearable fabrics. Researchers incorporated these tiny particles into graphene-based, wearable supercapacitors. The energy storage technology could be used in smart sportswear, heated clothing, or even medical devices.

Scientists from Korea and Saudi Arabia worked together on this novel technology. A nylon-based fabric- which can stretch up to three times in length- formed the base of their supercapacitor. A solution containing blended graphene oxide (rGO) and tin oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles was sprayed at supersonic speed onto this fabric to produce a conductive material.

“rGO improves the electrical conductivity of textiles, while SnO₂ provides energy storage capabilities”, the team said in their published research.

To form a supercapacitor the conductive fabric was sandwiched around a plastic separator, soaked in an electrolyte, and sealed in tape.

The team tested a range of tin oxide concentrations, measuring the performance of the resulting wearable supercapacitor. To do this, an LED was connected to the stretchy supercapacitor and a voltage applied. Adding 17.5g of tin oxide to each litre of supersonic spray produced wearable supercapacitors that could hold the most charge. They had the highest ‘supercapacity’.

Stretchable supercapacitors could power futuristic, intelligent devices by themselves. Or, as supercapacitors can be charged in a matter of seconds, they could slowly recharge a battery which acts as the primary energy source for a device. Such technology is already used for regenerative braking in hybrid cars where energy is generated faster than it is stored.

ITRI View:  Wearable supercapacitor fabrics are still relatively undeveloped at the commercial scale. However, other wearable technologies are already widespread, with 1 in 8 people in the UK owning a wearable device. If stretchable wires, sensors, and detectors are developed, entirely stretchable devices incorporating tin oxide nanoparticles could become a reality.

Courtesy: www. itri.co.uk