Carbon fiber reinforced structural battery composites: Progress and challenges toward industrial application

Structural battery composites (SBCs) represent an emerging multifunctional technology in which materials functionalized with energy storage capabilities are used to build load-bearing structural components. In particular, carbon fiber reinforced multilayer SBCs are studied most extensively for its resemblance to carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) structures widely used in aerospace and vehicle engineering industries. A comprehensive review on the progress in multifunctional modification of carbon fiber based electrodes, structural electrolyte matrix and integration method is conducted to outline the modification methodologies available for each constituent and to elucidate the current status of the multilayer SBCs technology. Limiting factors for better multifunctional performance are identified and specifically challenges toward industrial application of multilayer SBCs are proposed. Through joint development of multifunctional technology for constituents, we believe multilayer SBCs can be an industrial viable solution for structure and energy storage integration.