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West Virginia University

Composite Multifunctional Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The goal of this work was to design a battery that serves as the structural material as well as the power source for a transportation vehicle. The combination of both mechanical and electrochemical aspects within one material defines the component as a multifunctional material, or in this case, a multifunctional battery. The design of the composite multifunctional batteries for optimal performance involves the proper selection of the materials, architecture, and electrical interconnection. The ultimate goal is to incorporate a battery with a continuous composite fibrous fabric within the structured composite skin of a vehicle (such as an automobile or aircraft).;This work included a survey of the electrochemical potential of multiple composite fabrics, such as fiberglass and modified carbon fiber, as substitutions for the electrode and separator materials of the battery. Each modified material was examined by a typical cyclic voltage-capacity testing in a traditional button cell platform. The performance for the use of the modified carbon fibers as the anode was then compared to the performance of conventional lithium ion materials to see which of the pretreatments improved the carbon fiber's performance. In addition to this electrochemical testing, flexure and tensile mechanical data of various geometries of perforated pouch cell architectures were examined under varying structural loads while the battery was electrochemically tested. In-situ testing of structural cells was conducted to determine the best configuration for object specific structural batteries.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MS
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Year dc:date.available
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Mullenax, Joshua
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Edward M. Sabolsky
  • Patrick Browning
  • Wade W. Huebsch

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1663

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Mullenax, Joshua. Composite Multifunctional Lithium Ion Batteries. Thesis thesis, 2013. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.660