Performance Study of Gel Polymer Electrolyte-Based EDLC With Silver-Coated Textile Substrate for Integrated PV-EDLC System

Abstract

A novel integrated energy storage system combining a flexible silver-coated textile-based electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) with commercial solar photovoltaics (PV) has been successfully developed. This system, capable of bending up to 180°, demonstrates excellent mechanical flexibility, wearability, and energy performance, addressing key limitations in conventional EDLCs such as rigidity, bulkiness, and low energy density. The textile-based EDLC, fabricated using a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), achieved a high specific capacitance of 2.89 mF cm⁻² (71.32 F kg⁻¹), along with energy and power densities of 12.5 and 13.2 mW cm⁻², respectively. Notably, the device retained 100% capacitance over short cycling bursts, confirming its stability and reliability. What distinguishes this work is the use of silver-coated textile as both a current collector and flexible substrate, offering biocompatibility, high conductivity, and excellent integration with garments. This material choice allows higher mass loading and enhanced charge storage without compromising comfort or flexibility. When integrated with a flexible solar PV, the system achieved an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.2% and demonstrated rapid charging capability, powering a simple electronic device for 30 min after just 5 s of sunlight exposure. This study presents a low-cost, lightweight, and durable solution for next-generation wearable electronics, pushing forward the development of flexible, textile-based PV-EDLC systems by overcoming the limitations of existing rigid or semi-flexible designs.