Abstract
This paper describes a flexible and lightweight fabric supercapacitor electrode as a possible energy
source in smart garments. We examined the electrochemical behavior of porous carbon materials
impregnated into woven cotton and polyester fabrics using a traditional printmaking technique (screen
printing). The porous structure of such fabrics makes them attractive for supercapacitor applications
that need porous films for ion transfer between electrodes. We used cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic
cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to study the capacitive behaviour of carbon
materials using nontoxic aqueous electrolytes including sodium sulfate and lithium sulfate. Electrodes
coated with activated carbon (YP17) and tested at 0.25 A$g1 achieved a high gravimetric and areal
capacitance, an average of 85 F$g1 on cotton lawn and polyester microfiber, both corresponding to
0.43 F$cm2.