Modified single-walled carbon nanotubes for the new generation of energy storage applications
Abstract
In recent years, energy storage devices have played an increasingly significant role in our daily lives. Among the various types of energy storage devices, the supercapacitor is of interest and widely used in electric vehicles (EVs), energy backup and storage systems. The concept of the supercapacitor is fast charging with the electrical energy directly stored via physisorption and/or the electrochemical reaction. The charging-discharging rate for the supercapacitor is directly related to the properties of the electrode materials. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted much attention due to their high specific surface area, high conductivity, good chemical stability, and high theoretical capacitance. Nevertheless, the draw-back of using SWCNTs in energy storage applications is their tendency to agglomerate, due to high 𝜋−𝜋 interactions, leading to reduce in active surface area. To address this problem, in my research, the structure of SWCNTs has been modified using reductive charging process, then formed into highly individualized buckypapers, enhancing the diffusion acceleration of the electrolyte and preventing re-stacking. The supercapacitor with these as-synthesized SWCNT buckypapers achieves high gravimetric and volumetric performances which is suitable for the multifunctional structural application as the new generation of energy storage devices.
Biography
Pichamon Sirisinudomkit is a PhD student at Department of Materials, Imperial College London. She joined Imperial in July 2017 after completing an MEng in Chemical Engineering at Kasetsart University, Thailand. Her work focuses on enhancing the electrochemical and mechanical properties of nano-carbon networks for energy storage applications.
About Energy Futures Lab
Energy Futures Lab is one of six Global Institutes at Imperial College London. The institute was established to address global energy challenges by identifying and leading new opportunities to serve industry, government and society at large through high quality research, evidence and advocacy for positive change. The institute aims to promote energy innovation and advance systemic solutions for a sustainable energy future by bringing together the science, engineering and policy expertise at Imperial and fostering collaboration with a wide variety of external partners. The Energy Futures Lab daytime seminars are delivered by staff and students from across the College and further afield.