Development of electrically capacitive tri-component fibers by addition of graphene in the melt-spinning process (FiberCap)

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Gries, since 3/2017
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Lightweight Construction, Textile Technology
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 321812963

The development of clothing with integrated, electro-active functions (smart textiles) is one of the guiding themes in textile research of the 21th century. Goal of the research project FiberCap is to develop a fiber-based supercapacitor in the melt-spinning process. Therefore, polyamide 6 as basic material is modified with nano-materials and an electrolyte in the spinning process. Thus, electrical double-layers develop if the fiber is connected to a voltage source. The hereby released charge carriers can be used for supply of textiles with electrical energy. Characterization of the filaments is performed via thermal, mechanical, crystallographic and microscopic analysis methods. The determination of the electrical capacity and the power- as well as the energy density is performed by use of cyclovoltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrically capacitive fibers fabricated in the research project offer application potential in smart textiles, e.g. as power source for lightning textiles or exo-skeletons for support of the body muscles.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr.-Ing. Gunnar Henrik Seide, until 3/2017