Carbon nanotube-nanocup hybrid structures for high power supercapacitor applications.

Here, we design and develop high-power electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) using carbon-based three dimensional (3-D) hybrid nanostructured electrodes. 3-D hybrid nanostructured electrodes consisting of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on highly porous carbon nanocups (CNCs) were synthesized by a combination of anodization and chemical vapor deposition techniques. A 3-D electrode-based supercapacitor showed enhanced areal capacitance by accommodating more charges in a given footprint area than that of a conventional CNC-based device.

Controlled, Stepwise Reduction and Band Gap Manipulation of Graphene Oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO) has drawn tremendous interest as a tunable precursor in numerous areas, due to its readily manipulable surface. However, its inhomogeneous and nonstoichiometric structure makes achieving chemical control a major challenge. Here, we present a room-temperature based, controlled method for the stepwise reduction of GO, with evidence of sequential removal of each organic moiety. By analyzing signature infrared absorption frequencies, we identify the carbonyl group as the first to be reduced, while the tertiary alcohol takes the longest to be completely removed from the GO surface. Controlled reduction allows for progressive tuning of the optical gap from 3.5 eV down to 1 eV, while XPS spectra show a concurrent increase in the C/O ratio. This study is the first step toward selectively enhancing the chemical homogeneity of GO, thus providing greater control over its structure, and elucidating the order of removal of functional groups and hydrazine-vapor reduction.

Building energy storage device on a single nanowire.

Hybrid electrochemical energy storage devices combine the advantages of battery and supercapacitors, resulting in systems of high energy and power density. Using LiPF(6) electrolyte, the Ni-Sn/PANI electrochemical system, free of Li-based electrodes, works on a hybrid mechanism based on Li intercalation at the anode and PF(6)(-) doping at the cathode. Here, we also demonstrate a composite nanostructure electrochemical device with the anode (Ni-Sn) and cathode (polyaniline, PANI) nanowires packaged within conformal polymer core-shell separator. Parallel array of these nanowire devices shows reversible areal capacity of ∼3 µAh/cm(2) at a current rate of 0.03 mA/cm(2). The work shows the ultimate miniaturization possible for energy storage devices where all essential components can be engineered on a single nanowire.

LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2-graphene composite as a promising cathode for lithium-ion batteries.

The use of graphene as a conductive additive to enhance the discharge capacity and rate capability of LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) electrode material has been demonstrated. LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) and its composite with graphene (90:10 wt %) were prepared by microemulsion and ball-milling techniques, respectively. The structural and morphological features of the prepared materials were investigated with powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Characterization techniques depict single-phase LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) with particle sizes in the range of 220-280 nm. Electrochemical studies on LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) and LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2)-graphene were conducted using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods by constructing a lithium half-cell. Cyclic voltammograms show the well-defined redox peaks corresponding to Ni(2+)/Ni(4+). Charge-discharge tests were performed at different C rates: 0.05, 1, and 5 between 2.5 and 4.4 V. The results indicate the better electrochemical performance of the LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2)-graphene composite in terms of high discharge capacity (188 mAh/g), good rate capability, and good cycling performance compared to LiNi(1/3)Mn(1/3)Co(1/3)O(2). The improved electrochemical performance of the LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2)-graphene composite is attributed to a decrease in the charge-transfer resistance.