Preparation and characterization of a novel carbon/PAN/PPy@Zn yarn electrode

To fulfill the growing demand for durable and deformable flexible wearables, this study proposes a fibrous zinc ion battery negative electrode that is low-cost, easy to prepare, and similar to the flexible yarn. We have constructed a new type of carbon fiber/polyacrylonitrile(PAN)/polypyrrole(PPy) Zn electrode (CPP@Zn yarn electrode). Based on carbon fiber yarn, PAN wrapped carbon yarn (CP yarn) was prepared by electrospinning. PPy nanoparticles were deposited on CP yarn by in-situ polymerization to get the highly conductive yarn (CPP yarn). Finally, Zn is deposited on the CPP yarn by electrodeposition to obtain the CPP@Zn yarn electrode. When the deposition voltage is 1 V and the time is 30 min, the flexibility and the Zn crystal morphology of the CPP@Zn yarn electrode are the best, the specific capacity is the highest. When the current density is 0.04 A·cm −1 , the specific capacity can reach 981.3 mF·cm −1 and the energy density is 0.18 W·h·cm −1 . After cyclic charge and discharge repeated 300 times, 87.76% of the original specific capacity can still be maintained. After bending the CPP@Zn yarn electrode for 500 times, the specific capacitance can still maintain 86.13% of the original specific capacitance. The yarn electrode has excellent electrochemical stability and flexibility, and it has broad application prospects in wearable smart textiles .