SNM: Defect-engineered Nanocarbons for Energy Storage
Project Summary: Human
prosperity has been directly linked to the ability to efficiently use energy, and requires both energy generation and
storage. The impending resource crunch underlying fossil-based fuels has
reinvigorated the development of alternative, renewable, energy sources. To
enhance the viability of such sources, it is also necessary to provide
compatible materials and devices that can store
the energy for later use. In this context, recent advances in nanoscience
and technology promise tremendous gains in energy storage material performance.
However, a major roadblock preventing
technology transfer to industry is the absence of processes for continuous and
scalable manufacturing. With this end in mind, we propose novel types of
electrochemical capacitors with blueprints for their scalability, to bridge and
combine the fast response time and high power density of electrical capacitors with the high energy density
associated with conventional batteries.
The overall objective is
the development of nanostructured hybrid capacitor electrodes comprised of
electrically conducting polymers (ECPs) and carbon nanomaterials using manufacturing methodology. Our approach
benefits from the use of highly-conductive, carbon nanomaterials with tunable
properties that can accommodate swelling of redox polymers harnessing Clemson University’s expertise in large scale synthesis and
characterization of nanocarbons, electroactive polymer science and technology
with UCSD’s strengths in defect engineering and electrochemical analysis, and
integrates validation and feedback on prototype devices and test-beds from
industrial partners. The project will result in widely used hybrid
electrochemical capacitors with far superior performance compared to those
available today. This SNM addresses the following themes: i) Novel processes and techniques for
continuous and scalable nanomanufacturing, (in which the PIs work closely
with industrial partners on designing and implementing hybrid supercapacitors),
and ii) Fundamental scientific research
in well-defined areas that are compellingly justified as critical roadblocks to
scale-up (in which the PIs aim to develop new asymmetric device
configurations and optimize defect engineering of nanocarbons for the
high-energy, high-power hybrid capacitors).