MXene Super Capacitor Patch
Through a partnership with
Drexel’s Center for Functional Fabrics
, a team in the Drexel Nanomaterials Institute has designed a textile-based
supercapacitor that could be integrated into clothing and charge in minutes.
Published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, their MXene
supercapacitor patch can power electronics like Arduino microcontrollers
that collect and transmit data.
Most e-textiles rely on rigid batteries, but this MXene textile energy
storage solution is flexible and wearable. In tests, the supercapacitor
powered a temperature sensor and wireless communication for nearly two
hours. The Drexel team says this development significantly advances wearable
technology by creating a seamlessly integrated power source for smart
fabrics.
“This is a significant development for wearable technology,” said Yury
Gogotsi, PhD. “To fully integrate technology into fabric, we must also be
able to seamlessly integrate its power source — our discovery shows the path
forward for textile energy storage devices.”
With further development, MXene supercapacitors could support motion
trackers, biomedical monitors and other flexible electronics in clothing and
gear.