Advanced nanocomposite materials and fabrication methods for efficient energy storage devices

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Advanced energy storage devices are currently of significant interest for applications in hybrid and electric vehicles, buses and electronic products. The objective of this research is the development and testing of efficient nanocomposite materials for charge storage in electrodes of electrochemical supercapacitors and batteries. The research will be focused on the development of nanocomposites, containing advanced electrode materials, such as conductive polymers, oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and graphene. Our approach is uniquely different from other investigations in this area. The originality of our approach is in new colloidal and electrochemical methods in nanomaterials processing. We propose a new approach, which is based on the use of new anionic dopants, which create charge-transfer complexes with surface atoms of the substrates, reduce electropolymerization potential, prevent dissolution of the substrates during electropolymerization and allow the fabrication of adherent films on high surface area commercial current collectors. In the feasibility studies we demonstrated record-high capacitance and excellent cycling stability at high active material loading and high charge-discharge rates. The unique features and originality of our approach are also related to the use of new methods for the efficient dispersion of inorganic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and graphene using universal dispersants, discovered in the feasibility studies. The full potential of new discoveries will be utilized in the proposed work, which involves the fundamental research on electrosynthesis of composites, development of advanced dispersants and dopants, investigation of influence of their structure on electrosynthesis and electrochemical performance of nanocomposite electrodes. This research offers an opportunity to create new fundamental knowledge and meets the need in training HQP in the field of electrochemical devices and nanotechnology. This research will result in the development of efficient energy storage devices with high capacitance and cycling stability and high power-energy characteristics. The proposed research program will impact automotive, energy and electronic sectors.