Synthesis and Processing of Electroactive Polymers in Nanostructured Energy Devices

PI: Lau, Kenneth k.s机构：德雷克塞尔大学提案号：1264487标题：纳米结构能源设备中电活性聚合物的合成和加工能量存储是能量守恒方程中的关键组成部分，特别是当考虑到像太阳能和风能这样的可持续能源时，这些能源在本质上是可变的和间歇性的，这取决于一天中的时间，一年中的季节和地理位置。同样，储存能量并在需要时使用的能力将为电动汽车提供更加无缝的操作，无论是在加速/减速还是在巡航模式下。在不同的能量存储技术中，超级电容器或电化学电容器作为一种有吸引力的选择正在兴起，因为它比锂离子电池等其他选择提供更高的功率（能量转移率）。通过电化学双层存储电荷的超级电容器具有较高的功率密度，但能量密度不足。通过加入电活性聚合物，其经历相对较快的氧化还原反应，进一步的伪电容可以增加，以提高能量密度。然而，由于超级电容器电极通常是高度多孔的纳米结构，在不牺牲表面积或孔通道的情况下将电活性聚合物添加到这些纳米结构内的孔表面上，仍然存在重大的合成和加工挑战。PI计划采用氧化化学气相沉积（oCVD）方法，通过在多孔纳米结构材料中实现电活性聚合物薄膜的保形、均匀生长来解决许多挑战。中心假设是，无液体，气-固聚合反应将导致表面约束的聚合物生长和超薄膜，这些超薄膜不会显着改变潜在的孔隙结构，同时增加可观的伪电容。这项工作将包括(1)在多孔纳米结构中合成电活性聚合物薄膜，(2)了解加工对聚合物结构和性能的影响，以及(3)利用oCVD结合电活性聚合物的假电容器的组装和电化学分析。这项工作预计将提供具有更高比电容、能量密度、功率密度和循环稳定性的增强型超级电容器，使其可用于电动和混合动力汽车，以及包括太阳能电池和燃料电池在内的绿色能源系统的开发。从根本上说，这项工作有望为保形涂层多孔纳米结构提供一种有效的合成和加工方法，这将在其他纳米级器件中有更广泛的应用，包括电子、传感器、太阳能电池、燃料电池、晶体管和有机发光二极管（oled）。与这项研究相结合的是一个教育项目，旨在培养研究生和本科生以及高中生对聚合物能源的了解。将积极招募少数民族和代表性不足的学生参与该项目。此外，还将在费城和新泽西州卡姆登内城的学校进行推广，以促进STEM的参与和早期学习。

PI: Lau, Kenneth K.S.Institutions: Drexel UniversityProposal Number: 1264487Title: Synthesis and Processing of Electroactive Polymers in Nanostructured Energy DevicesEnergy storage is a key component in the energy conservation equation, especially when consideringsustainable energies like solar and wind, which are more variable and intermittent in nature depending onthe time of day, season of the year, and geographical location. Similarly, the ability to store energy anduse it when demanded will provide a more seamless operation of electric vehicles whether duringacceleration/deceleration or in cruise mode. Among different energy storage technologies, supercapacitorsor electrochemical capacitors are emerging as an attractive option for delivering much higher power (rateof energy transfer) than alternative options like the lithium ion battery.Intellectual Merit Supercapacitors that store charge through electrochemical double layers possess higher power density butlack sufficient energy density. By incorporating electroactive polymers, which undergo relatively fastredox reactions, further pseudocapacitance can be added to enhance energy density. However, as thesupercapacitor electrodes are typically highly porous nanostructures, there remains significant synthesisand processing challenges in adding the electroactive polymers onto the surfaces of pores inside thesenanostructures without sacrificing surface area or pore access. The PI plans an oxidativechemical vapor deposition (oCVD) approach that will address many of the challenges by enabling theconformal, uniform growth of thin films of electroactive polymers inside porous nanostructured materials.The central hypothesis is that the liquid-free, vapor-to-solid polymerization reactions will lead to surfaceconfined polymer growth and ultrathin films that do not significantly alter the underlying pore structurewhile adding appreciable pseudocapacitance. This work will involve (1) synthesis ofelectroactive polymer thin films in porous nanostructures, (2) understanding the effect of processing onpolymer structure and properties, and (3) assembly and electrochemical analysis of pseudocapacitors thatmake use of oCVD to incorporate the electroactive polymers.Broader Impact This work is expected to deliver enhanced supercapacitors with significantlyhigher specific capacitance, energy density, power density and cycle stability, making them viable for usein electric and hybrid vehicles as well as in the development of greener energy systems that include solarcells and fuel cells. Fundamentally, the work is expected to provide an effective synthesis andprocessing methodology for conformally coating porous nanostructures that will have broader utility inother nanoscale devices, including electronics, sensors, solar cells, fuel cells, transistors and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Integrated with the research is an education program, which aims to train graduate and undergraduatestudents as well as to engage high school students in polymers for energy. Minority and underrepresentedstudents will be actively recruited to participate in the project. In addition, outreach will bemade to schools in Philadelphia and inner city Camden, NJ to promote STEM involvement and learningearly on.