journal article·2025-09Open access

Direct‐Ink‐Written Shape‐Programmable Micro‐Supercapacitors with Electrothermal Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Le Yang, Yuan Liu, Ran Bi, Yuanhao Chen, Cristian Valenzuela, Yanzhao Yang, Huan Liu, Ling Wang, Wei Feng

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 35· Issue 39

Abstract

Abstract The growing demand for miniaturized energy storage devices in next‐generation renewable energy applications faces constraints from conventional micro‐energy storage systems with fixed geometries, which limit their adaptability and functional integration in technological applications. Traditional fabrication methods, hinder by their complexity and insufficient structural precision, struggle to integrate shape‐programmable functionality into compact energy storage devices for complex operating conditions. In this research, an innovative direct ink writing‐based (DIW‐based) strategy is proposed to co‐fabricate liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs) into a unified electrically controlled, shape‐programmable LCE‐MSCs. The LCE‐MSC integration achieves robust electrochemical performance with charge storage capacity, excellent rate and cycling stability performance. These LCE‐MSCs demonstrate rapid, reversible deformation under low‐voltage stimulation while retaining stable energy storage performance. By modulating the printing patterns of LCE filaments, diverse configurations of shape‐programmable LCE‐MSCs can be achieved. Furthermore, integration with sensors enables adaptive devices capable of static object recognition and real‐time humidity monitoring. These results underscore the potential of shape‐programmable MSCs with seamless power‐actuation integration, which can open new opportunity for diverse applications in adaptive robotics, wearable electronics, and autonomous shape‐programmable systems.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Advanced Materials and Mechanics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China

Binhai Industrial Research Institute Tianjin University Tianjin 300452 P. R. China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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