ACT/SGER: Block Copolymer Self-Assembled Nanoarchitectures For Flexible High Energy Density Supercapacitors

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The goal of the proposed exploratory research is to investigate novel polymeric nanoscale pulsedpower capacitor flexible thin films based on the self-assembly of block copolymers. The flexiblepulsed power capacitor system would exhibit a lamellar or cylindrical microphase separation, withelectrode, and polymeric electrolyte as the A and B blocks. The A block (redox cobalt oxideor p-doped conductive polymer) forms the high surface area electrode material, and the B block(sulfonated polynorbornene or sulfonated polystyrene) is the electrolyte. Casting of the synthesizedblock copolymer from a solvent results in a self-assembled A/B nanostructure, which is equivalent tomany nanoscale capacitor cells in parallel, thus providing the maximum possible power. A varietyof microstructure and electrical properties characterization tools will be employed to evaluate theflexible pulsed power capacitor system's performance. The broader impacts of the proposed exploratory research relate to a block copolymer nanoscalecapacitor device system which would be flexible because it is made out of a polymer, and transparentto visible light due to the nanoscale dimensions of its morphology. The ease of processing apolymer electrolyte would allow the production of thin film nanoscale self-assembled flexible pulsedpower capacitors that could be wound into coils or processed as coatings and sheets. A pulsedpower capacitor based on the nanoscale self-assembly of block copolymers will provide devices withintegrated electronics, yet distributed over a large area substrate as freestanding flexible films orcoatings. The active circuit components would be directly integrated on the flexible substrate.Such supercapacitor system could be applied in power conditioning for directed energy weaponcomponents. The proposed nanoscale pulsed power capacitor system thus promises to open newavenues for autonomous power of the all electric ships or airplanes and thus helping enhancehomeland security capabilities. The education activities to be undertaken in this work includeundergraduate and graduate teaching, middle school teacher training, graduate student advising,and various opportunities in undergraduate research involvement and mentoring.