Fabrication and Characterization of Flexible Fiber-Shape Supercapacitors: Learning Basic Concepts of Materials Chemistry and Electrochemistry Applied to Energy Storage

Abstract

As the demand for wearable consumer and medical devices continues to grow, there is a pressing need for flexible and wearable means of storing electrical energy. This laboratory exercise provides an educational framework for teaching fundamental concepts in materials chemistry and electrochemistry through a practical, hands-on approach, focusing on the development of flexible energy storage devices. Fiber-based supercapacitors offer a promising solution due to their inherent flexibility compared to bulk materials, making them ideal candidates for the electrodes of flexible supercapacitors. In this module, students synthesize flexible fibers composed of carbon nanomaterials and chitosan using wet spinning and subsequently characterize these fibers using electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD). The final stage involves the fabrication of a solid-state supercapacitor, providing a realistic application of the concepts learned. This educational module bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications, fostering a deeper understanding of advanced materials, electrochemistry, and energy storage technologies.