Nanostructured Carbon -based Electrodes for
Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices
The main objective of this project is to fabricate
innovative electrode components using carbon nanostructure
materials (CNS) such as
graphene-like, carbon nanotubes (CNT), and carbon
fibers.
The novelty in CNS is that they can be
manufactured from carbon byproducts, and have advantages that
result in a cost effective process with strong potential to
launch in an industrial set up.
Due to the nature of CNS blend, they
possess large surface areas that can be consolidated under
different conditions to reach desire levels of porosity (nano –
meso scale), from fully dense materials to highly porous
membranes. The
unique features and benefits of CNS as well as advantages over
the existing carbon-based technology include: 1) several times
larger surface area than activated carbon - generates extremely
high energy density. The open network
structure of CNS electrodes minimizes the diffusion path of
electrolyte ions, which is critical for charging the device. CNS
pores are easily accessible, whereas most of the surface area of
activated carbon is confined in a very small pores that limit
the diffusion of ions;
2) very high conductivity properties will increase the power
density burst of the device. CNS
electrodes are mechanically robust and show high conductivity (>
500 S/m) compared to AC (< 100 S/m);
3) availability of methods to create CNS based layers for better
power efficiency compared to metal oxides, conducting polymers,
xerogels, CNT, and AC.; and 4) compatibility with AC-based
technology and standard processes and equipment used for
fabrication of conventional Supercapacitor.
