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Abstract: Recently developed textile and paper based supercapacitors are well-suited for wearable energy storage devices due to their mechanical flexibility and stretchability. In this study, the effects of mechanical straining on carbon nanotube coated textiles are studied, and we demonstrate the pre-straining of the textile can result in an enhanced specific capacitance as well as power and energy densities. In-situ resistance measurement during mechanical straining of the textile capacitors show a decrease in resistance with tensile straining, which contributed directly to the enhancement of electrochemical performance. Two different carbon nanotube textiles based on polyester and cotton with different mechanical behaviors are examined, where the polyester textile show an increase in specific capacitance from 53.6 F g−1 to 85.7 F g−1 after the textile is pre-strained to 30% permanent elongation prior to electrochemical testing, constituting a 37% enhancement. Similarly, the cotton textile shows an enhancement in specific capacitance from 122.1 F g−1 to 142.0 F g−1 after 30% permanent elongation, which is a 22% enhancement. Specific capacitance, energy density, and power density are increased further by electroplating of MnO2 nanoparticles on the carbon nanotube coated cotton textile and then imposing a permanent elongation of 30%. Our results indicate that the simple mechanical pre-straining of the textile fibers contribute to significant enhancements in the electrochemical performance of the supercapacitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with higher energy density are necessary to meet the increasing demands of energy storage system (ESS) in near future. Tin (IV) oxide, SnO 2 , is one of highly promising anode candidates due to its high theoretical capacity (782 mAh g−1), abundance, environmental friendliness, and safety with organic electrolytes. However, a rapid capacity fading and poor rate capabilities arising from the large volume expansion and subsequent agglomeration of Sn nanoparticles have been major issues of SnO 2. Here, we have synthesized one-dimensional (1D) SnO 2 -amorphous titanium (IV) oxide NTs (SnO 2 -a-TiO 2 NTs), which allow both facile ionic and electron transport as well as easy penetration of electrolytes. The resultant SnO 2 -a-TiO 2 NTs not only alleviate volume expansion by maintaining their structural integrity but also possess minimal charge transfer resistance even after a number of cycles. SnO 2 -a-TiO 2 NTs exhibit both excellent cycle retention characteristics (1050.2 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles) and outstanding rate capability (522.3 mAh g−1 at a current density of 5000 mA g−1), which is attributed to the introduction of amorphous TiO 2 that not only acts as buffer agent for volume changes of SnO 2 but also allows fast surface-controlled diffusion process due to its pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanisms. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Introduction of amorphous TiO 2 into SnO 2 nanotubes (SnO 2 -a-TiO 2 NTs). • SnO 2 -a-TiO 2 NTs fabricated by one-step electrospinning and calcination. • Incorporation of amorphous TiO 2 leads to higher Li diffusivity. • SnO 2 -a-TiO 2 NTs exhibit excellent cycle retention and rate capabilities. • Amorphous TiO 2 effectively alleviates the volume changes of SnO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]