Synthesis and Processing of Electroactive Polymers in Nanostructured Energy Devices

PI：Lau，Kenneth K.S.研究所：德雷克塞尔大学提案编号：1264487题目：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，特别是考虑到太阳能和风能等可持续能源时，这些能源在一天中的不同时间、一年中的季节和地理位置的性质上更具变异性和间歇性。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无缝的操作，无论是在加减速还是在巡航模式下。在不同的储能技术中，超级电容器或电化学电容器正在成为一种有吸引力的选择，可以提供比锂离子电池等替代方案更高的功率(能量传递率)。通过电化学双层存储电荷的智能优点超级电容器具有更高的功率密度，但缺乏足够的能量密度。通过加入电活性聚合物，这些聚合物经历相对快速的氧化还原反应，可以进一步增加赝电容量，以提高能量密度。然而，由于超级电容器电极是典型的高度多孔性的纳米结构，在不牺牲比表面积或孔通道的情况下将电活性聚合物添加到该结构内的孔的表面上仍然存在着巨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，通过使电活性聚合物薄膜在多孔性纳米结构材料中非正规、均匀地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受限的聚合物生长和超薄膜，而不会显著改变底层的孔结构，同时增加明显的伪电容。这项工作将包括：(1)多孔纳米结构中电活性聚合物薄膜的合成，(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伪电容器的组装和电化学分析。这项工作有望提供具有显著更高的比电容、能量密度、功率密度和循环稳定性的增强型超级电容器，使其适用于电动汽车和混合动力汽车，以及开发包括太阳能电池和燃料电池在内的更绿色的能源系统。从根本上说，这项工作有望为共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具有更广泛的用途，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，旨在培训研究生和本科生，并让高中生参与聚合物的能源研究。将积极招募少数族裔和代表性不足的学生参加该项目。此外，还将扩大到费城和新泽西州卡姆登市中心的学校，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.