Characterization and Reporting Protocols for Structural Power Composites: A Perspective
Abstract Structural power composites, multifunctional materials that can withstand mechanical loads while storing/delivering electrical energy, are gaining significant interest. However, a consequence of melding disparate structural and electrochemical technologies is that there are no common characterization and reporting protocols, undermining the advancement of this emerging field. This Perspective paper sets out the challenges and resulting issues in the literature and recommends best practices and requirements for future protocols for reporting multifunctional performance. A key recommendation is that a “universal coupon” should be developed to be used for both mechanical and electrochemical characterization of cells, and hence credibly declare multifunctional performance. Ultimately, such a universal coupon can simultaneously characterize both functions, so as to glean electrochemical–mechanical coupling phenomena. This article recommends reporting guidelines so as to avoid the current ambiguities associated with normalization and permit robust comparison across the literature. The aspiration is that the guidelines and framework outlined in this paper lay the groundwork for formal standard methods to be developed and agreed upon. Establishing robust characterization and clearer reporting permits researchers and industry to take an informed view of the literature and provides a better grounding for the adoption of this technology, underpinning future industrialization of these emerging materials.
Authors
- E. Leif (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0630-2037)
- Mats Johansson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3201-5138)
- Alexander Bismarck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7458-1587)
- Madhavi Srinivasan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5497-3428)
- Derrick Wen Hui Fam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0131-7611)
- Jodie L. Lutkenhaus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2613-6016)
- Emile S. Greenhalgh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3923-2883)
- Dan Zenkert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9744-4550)
- Natasha Shirshova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0546-6278)
- Göran Lindbergh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-9313)
- Johanna Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3186-9561)
- Milo S. P. Shaffer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9384-9043)
- Sang Nguyen
- Alfredo Bici
Institutions
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- University of Vienna (AT)
- Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (US)
- TU Wien (AT)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- Durham University (GB)
- Energy Research Institute (CN)
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (SG)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE)
- Texas A&M University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Energy Materials
- Published
- 2025-08-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202404702
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.85
Funders
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- Cleansky
- VINNOVA
- Swedish National Space Agency
- Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Energimyndigheten
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
- Office of Naval Research
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- European Office of Aerospace Research and Development