SUPERCAPACITOR-BASED SENSORS WITH FLEXIBLE ELECTROLYTES

摘要

Supercapacitor-based sensors having flexible solid-state electrolytic elements are described. The deformation of the electrolytic element in response to an applied force or strain changes the area of capacitive layers defined by contacting surfaces of the electrolytic element and one or more electrodes of the sensor. The resulting change in capacitance of the capacitive double layers is indicative of the magnitude of the applied force or of the strain. The flexible solid-state electrolytic element may include cellulosic material distributed in a cured ionic polymeric matrix. Techniques for forming the flexible solid-state electrolytic element include wetting a cellulosic material with a photocurable composition comprising an ionic liquid, a prepolymer composition, and a photoinitiator, and photocuring the photocurable composition for a predetermined curing period by exposing the wetted cellulosic material to a predetermined curing wavelength.