Electrochemical energy storage for wearable electronics: yarn-like and knitted electrodes composed of molecularly imprinted carbons and polymers

可穿戴电子产品的快速增长，已经不再是由“仿生人”的梦想驱动，而是由人工智能的新曙光驱动。对于通过感知身体运动来感知身体运动的应用(特别是视力受损的人需要的)、健身跟踪器或植入式治疗和药物输送方法(例如植入式胰岛素泵)，设备应该由响应迅速、可变形以适合佩戴者的电子材料制成，但仍可在用户的运动范围内操作。它们的成功在很大程度上取决于将它们与一种充电器(电池或超级电容器)相结合，这种充电器可以像衣服一样通畅地穿着，为纺织类电子产品供电。因此，我们的研究集中在开发具有橡胶可塑性和灵活性的电源，同时在无泄漏的电解液中工作(优先考虑佩戴者的安全)，并且可以很容易地与电子纺织品集成。在这项研究计划中，我们正在探索电化学辅助合成途径，以创造具有更好的电荷存储能力的新的碳接枝聚合物组件。这些分子印迹结合物是单纤维(纱线)或针织(机织)超级电容器电极的活性成分，用作可穿戴电子设备的电源。我们的工作与传统合成的不同之处在于，我们正在使用“电子点击”工具来调整尺寸和形貌，或许还会发现具有工业应用的超级电容器材料的新结构。此外，我们的电化学制造消除了或最大限度地减少了未反应化合物的化学废物处理问题，使这一过程更加环保。在我们最新进展的基础上，我们将创建一份新的储能材料目录，并指出最适合设计超级电容器电极的分子，与现有的超级电容器电极相比，超级电容器电极的电化学性能有所改善。此外，我们将制作一种由性能最好的分子组件组装而成的灵活且可变形的超级电容器设备的原型，并对它们进行机械应力测试，以便在一个框架中进行报告，以便与商用超级电容器进行有意义的比较和了解。最终，这些灵活的电力系统预计将在与充电相关的碳排放减少的情况下运行。因此，我们将把它们与可穿戴式太阳能或摩擦电能转换器集成在一起。开发离网供电的超级电容器是我们的长期目标。最后，这项研究计划将有助于培养优秀的高素质人才。我们的目标是让HQP参与有影响力的创新，并使他们做好准备，使他们在加拿大日益增长的知识型经济，特别是高科技领域受到高度追捧。

The rapid growth in wearable electronics is no longer driven by the dream of a "bionic human", but by the new dawn of artificial intelligence. For applications such as sensing thru perception of body movement (especially needed for those suffering from vision impairment), fitness trackers, or implantable therapeutic and drug-delivery methods (e.g., implantable insulin pumps), devices should be made of electronic materials that are responsive, deformable to fit the wearer, and yet operational within the user's range of motion. Their success, in large part, depends on integrating them with an energizer (battery or supercapacitor) that can be worn as unobstructively as clothing to supply electricity to textile-like electronics. Thus, our research is focused on development of power sources demonstrating rubbery plasticity and flexibility, while operating in a leakage-free electrolyte (priority for safety of the wearer), and which can be easily integrated with electronic textiles. In this research program, we are exploring electrochemistry-aided synthesis pathways to create new carbon-grafted-polymer assemblies with improved charge storage capabilities. These molecularly imprinted conjugations serve as an active component of the single-fibre (yarn) or knitted (woven) supercapacitor electrodes used as a power supply in wearable electronics. What differentiates our work from conventional synthesis is that we are employing "electro-click" tools to tune the size and morphology, and perhaps to uncover new architectures of supercapacitor materials with industrial applications. In addition, our electrochemically mediated fabrication eliminates or minimizes the problem of chemical waste disposal for unreacted compounds, which makes this process more environmentally benign. Building on our recent progress, we will create a catalogue of new energy storage materials and indicate the most suitable molecules to design supercapacitor electrodes that demonstrate improved electrochemical characteristics as compared to those already existing. Furthermore, we will prototype a flexible and deformable supercapacitor device assembled from the best performing molecular components and test them upon mechanical stress, so that they will be reported in a framework that allows for meaningful comparison and understanding relative to commercially available supercapacitors. Ultimately, these flexible power systems are expected to operate with decreased carbon emission associated with their charging. Hence, we will integrate them with wearable solar or triboelectric energy converters. Developing the off-grid powered supercapacitor is our long-term goal. Finally, this research program will facilitate training of outstanding Highly Qualified Personnel. It is our aim to involve HQP in impactful innovation, and to prepare them to be highly sought-after in Canada's growing knowledge-based economy, especially high-tech sectors.