Design of a multifunctional composite material with enhanced structural and power storage capability

The paper presents results associated with the development of a carbon fiber weave based composite material with power storage capability. In the simplest layup, material coupons (commonly 75mm by 75mm) are made in a single layer configuration providing modest gains in terms of multifunctionality, i.e. the power storage capability is not significant compared to the overall loss in mechanical strength of the material, due to the changes in formulation dictated by the added power storage functionality. However, the multifunctional performance can be enhanced by stacking multiple single layer material coupons on top of each other, in various configurations, to achieve enhanced mechanical and/or electrical properties for the material. Four layup methods have been explored, and the results of the electromechanical characterization of these layups are presented and discussed here, in connection with the properties of the single layer coupons.