Safety And Fire Reaction Of Structural Power Storage Devices

在我们不断提高生活质量的世界里，对开发更高效的设备的追求还在继续，这些设备还可以提供额外的价值，例如体积（空间）或/和重量节省。实现体积/重量节省的一种方法是创建智能结构，其中单功能设备，例如传感器，执行器或电池与结构材料夹在一起。然而，以这种方式节省的费用是非常有限的。另一种方法是用同时具有两种功能的材料制造器件，即多功能材料。值得注意的是，电力存储器件与纤维增强聚合物复合材料之间存在相似之处，例如，电力存储器件中的电极排列，特别是超级电容器中的电极排列类似于纤维增强复合材料的层压结构。此外，这两种设备都使用注入聚合物基质/电解质的碳基增强剂/电极。该项目旨在建立一个新的国际合作，以调查与结构超级电容器的安全和防火性能有关的重要问题，这是英国领先的大学之一杜和普瓦捷大学之间的合作，普瓦捷大学是欧洲最古老的大学之一，与CNRS有着密切的联系。实验工作将在Rogaume教授（普瓦捷大学）的实验室进行，将为这一长期合作奠定基础。相关学者的互补贡献和专业知识将解决和回答有关结构电解质和多功能/结构超级电容器的热性能和安全性的重要问题，以氧化介质中的热分解为基础。结构/多功能超级电容器是一种可以同时存储能量和承受机械负载的设备，这是一个快速发展的研究课题，因为多功能设备可以提供显著的重量和体积节省-例如在汽车和航空航天领域。申请人在结构超级电容器的重要组成部分（即结构电解质）的合成和表征方面拥有广泛的专业知识。迄今为止，结构电解质的表征主要集中在其微观结构、电化学性能和机械性能上，因为这些是优化电解质配方的关键。然而，随着结构电解质的成熟，必须对其安全性和火灾反应（即火焰蔓延、可燃性和烟雾释放）进行彻底调查。虽然已经对单个组件（如环氧基纤维增强复合材料和离子液体（用作电解质））的热稳定性和降解进行了很好的研究，但尚未对最终结构电解质和结构超级电容器进行研究。这项研究很重要，因为火灾造成的影响不能被高估，特别是在涉及人的情况下。在所有潜在的应用中，结构超级电容器都与人密切相关，无论是用作混合动力/电动汽车、飞机的一部分，还是笔记本电脑/平板电脑的外壳。从这个角度来看，非常重要的是要知道，不仅是设备是否会起火，而且如果它受到火灾会发生什么；以及由此产生的气体产物是什么——了解这些对于评估相关的健康危害至关重要。该项目的目的是为这些重要问题提供初步和翔实的答案。

In the world where we thrive to improve quality of life, the quest to develop more efficient devices which also can provide additional value, for example volume (space) or/and weight savings continues. One approach allowing achievement of the volume/weight savings is the creation of smart structures, where monofunctional devices, for example sensors, actuators or batteries are sandwiched together with structural materials. However, the savings achieved this way are very modest. Another approach is to manufacture devices from the materials which can perform two functions simultaneously, i.e. multifunctional materials. It should be noted that there are similarities between power storage devices and fibre reinforced polymer composites, for example, the electrode arrangement in the power storage devices and specifically in supercapacitors is similar to laminated architecture of fibre reinforced composite. Moreover, both devices use carbon based reinforcements/electrodes infused with a polymeric matrix/electrolyte. This project is directed at establishing a new international collaboration to investigate the important questions related to the safety and fire performance properties of structural supercapacitors between DU, one of the UK's leading Universities, and the University de Poitiers, one of the oldest Universities in Europe with strong links to CNRS. Experimental work, to be carried out in the laboratory of Prof Rogaume (University de Poitiers), will form a basis for this long-term collaboration. The complementary combined contributions and expertise of the academics involved will address and answer important questions regarding the thermal performance and safety of structural electrolytes and multifunctional/structural supercapacitors, using thermal decomposition in an oxidative media as a basis. Structural/multifunctional supercapacitors are devices which may simultaneously store energy and withstand mechanical load, a rapidly developing research topic since multifunctional devices can provide significant weight and volume savings - for example in the automotive and aerospace sectors. The applicant possesses extensive expertise in the synthesis and characterisation of one of the important components of the structural supercapacitor, namely the structural electrolyte. To date, characterisation of the structural electrolytes has focused on their microstructure, electrochemical performance and mechanical properties, since these are the essential for the optimisation of the electrolyte formulation. However, as structural electrolytes mature, their safety and fire reaction, i.e. a flame spread, flammability and release of fumes and smoke) must be thoroughly investigated. While the thermal stability and degradation of the individual components, such as epoxy based fibre reinforced composites and ionic liquids (used as an electrolyte) are already well researched, no work has been carried out on the final structural electrolyte as well as structural supercapacitors. This study is important as the impact caused by fire cannot be overestimate, especially where people are involved. In all potential applications, structural supercapacitors are closely linked to people, whether they are used as a part of a hybrid/electrical car, aircraft or a case for a laptop / tablet. From this perspective it is very important to know, not only whether or not a device will burst into flames but also what will happen if it is subjected to fire; and what gaseous product would form as a result - knowledge of which is crucial to assessing the associated health hazards. The purpose of the project is to provide preliminary and informative answers to these important questions.