Robust and High-Performance Electrodes via Crumpled Au-CNT Forests for Stretchable Supercapacitors

Stretchable supercapacitors based on vertically aligned nanotubes or nanowires have attracted considerable attention because of their improved robustness and electrochemical performance under large and repeated deformations. Here, we demonstrate a robust and high-performance stretchable electrode based on crumpled Au-coated carbon nanotube forest (Au-CNT forest). Experimental measurements show that the resistance of the Au-CNT forest electrode is around one order magnitude lower than that of a pure CNT forest electrode. The biaxially crumpled Au-CNT forest electrode demonstrates nearly identical electrochemical performance at different measured charge/discharge rates under different strain conditions (i.e., from 0% to 800% area strain). The as-prepared symmetric supercapacitor demonstrates a maximum specific capacitance of similar to 6 mF cm(-2) at the current density of 40 mA cm(-2) under large strains, exhibiting superior mechanical and electrochemical stability. This research presents a facile process to fabricate highly stretchable supercapacitors based on vertically aligned nanotubes or nanowires for achieving exceptional and robust electrochemical performance.