Flexible and wearable energy storage is in high demand for the field of smart and electronic textiles. Collaborating between the AJ Drexel Nanotechnology Institute and the Shima Seiki Haute Tech Lab (Prof. Genevieve Dion) at Drexel University, we are developing unique yarn-electrodes for wearable supercapacitors that can subsequently be knitted into full textiles and garments.

Image: a) 3D simulated model and b) zoom in of the shirt with a textile supercapacitor electrode, embedded as part of a long sleeve t-shirt; c) simulated knit structure rendered before fabrication. Developed on the SDS-One Design Software; d) carbon fiber current collector coming out of the knitting machine during fabrication; e) four current collectors knitted at once, demonstration of how lengths of electrodes can be knitted quickly and efficiently; f) close-up of CF electrode screen printed with activated carbon; outer green fabric made of wool; g) carbon fiber woven fabric before printing; h) carbon fiber woven fabric after printing. Only the overlapping section is coated in electrolyte; i) a shaped front bodice knitted as one piece with a sample electrode made as a part of the textile. Knitted on an SGG122SV Shima Seiki Machine.