Graphene-based Materials for Ultracapacitance Applications

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。技术摘要：通过该奖项，DMR支持Rodney S教授的研究和教育目标。机械工程系的Ruoff和Christopher W.德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校化学和生物化学系的Bielawski博士说。 Ruoff和Bielawski团队将共同开发基于石墨烯的高性能超级电容器的新方法，用于电能存储。 特别是，他们计划：（i）开发石墨烯基电极材料，以增强具有更高能量和功率密度的超级电容器的性能;（ii）表征材料的形态，结构和性能，从而实现前所未有的超级电容性能;（iii）对石墨烯基超级电容器中的电化学双层以及决定其性能的其他因素有基本的了解;（iv）研究离子液体作为石墨烯基超级电容器电解质的相容性;以及（v）开发新的超级电容器电池组装方法和电池测试方法。 形态/结构和性能之间的关系将通过化学合成、加工、表征和物理性能测量的综合努力而显现。 为了满足在降低储能成本的同时提高能量密度的最新要求，Ruoff和Bielawski实验室的基础研究将有助于推动石墨烯材料的大规模开发。 对石墨烯电化学电容的深入理解也将为其他储能设备如锂离子电池提供有意义的参考。 这一基本的研究很可能会导致有趣的或新的现象，在一般领域的电化学。 固有的拟议研究计划的多学科性质，学生在这个项目上工作将获得广泛的科学和工程概念和技术的经验。 Ruoff和Bielawski教授积极参与旨在培养材料化学，碳科学和工程方面的本科生和研究生的教育计划。 他们将开发工程、化学和物理方面的补充讲座和实验室课程，包括为当地小学和中学7-12年级开发与能源有关的课程。非技术概述：作为一种单层石墨，石墨烯具有许多特殊的性能，包括：非凡的机械性能，高导热性和优异的导电性。 结合其非常高的比表面积（对于单个片材，约2630 m2/g或约足球场面积的一半/克），基于石墨烯的材料有望满足提高能量密度和降低当代超级电容器储能成本的最新要求。 有了这个奖项，UT奥斯汀的Ruoff和Bielawski团队将联合收割机结合各自的优势和经验，共同开发一种基于石墨烯的新型高性能超级电容器。 他们还将对石墨烯基超级电容器有一个基本的了解，这将为其他储能设备（如锂离子电池）提供有意义的参考。 基于石墨烯卓越的导电性和极高的表面积在储能应用中可能取得的突破，目前在电网、汽车和便携式电子设备等不同领域使用的技术可能会发生革命性变化。 Ruoff和Bielawski小组完全融入这些研究工作，还计划开展一些推广和教育活动，包括研究生和博士后研究员的研究计划，高中和本科生的持续和夏季研究培训（包括少数民族）学生和高中教师，在工程，化学和物理课程中提供的课程材料的补充，包括7-12年级的课程编制。 为了最大限度地发挥这些努力，还计划与一些有兴趣开发石墨烯基超级电容器的本地和国际公司合作。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).TECHNICAL SUMMARY:With this award, the DMR is supporting the research and educational goals of Professor Rodney S. Ruoff of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Christopher W. Bielawski of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. The Ruoff and Bielawski groups will co-develop new methods to synthesize high performance ultracapacitors based on graphene for applications in electrical energy storage. In particular, they plan to: (i) develop graphene-based electrode materials for the enhanced performance of ultracapacitors with higher energy and power densities; (ii) characterize the morphologies, structures and properties of materials which can lead to unprecedented ultracapacitance performance; (iii) develop a fundamental understanding of the electrochemical double layer in graphene-based ultracapacitors and of other factors which determine their performance; (iv) investigate the compatibility of ionic liquids as an electrolyte for graphene-based ultracapacitors; and (v) develop new ultracapacitor cell assembly approaches and cell-testing methods. The relationship between morphology/structure and performance will emerge through the combined efforts of chemical synthesis, processing, characterization, and physical properties measurements. To meet the state-of-the-art requirement of improving the energy density while lowering the cost of energy storage, fundamental research in the Ruoff and Bielawski laboratories will help to drive the development of graphene-based materials on a large scale and in a cost-effective manner. The development of a deeper understanding of graphene-based electrochemical capacitance will also provide a meaningful reference for other energy storage devices such as Li-ion batteries. This fundamental investigation is likely to lead to interesting or novel phenomena in the general field of electrochemistry. Inherent to the multidisciplinary nature of the proposed research plan, students working on this project will gain experience in a wide range of scientific and engineering concepts and techniques. Professors Ruoff and Bielawski are actively involved in educational programs that are designed to train undergraduate and graduate students in materials chemistry, carbon science, and engineering. They will develop complementary lecture and laboratory courses in engineering, chemistry and physics, including the development of energy-related curricula for grades 7-12 in local primary and high schools. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:As a single sheet of graphite, graphene has a number of exceptional properties, including: extraordinary mechanical properties, high thermal conductivity and excellent electrical conductivity. Combined with its very high specific surface area (for the individual sheet, ~2630 m2/g or about one half of the area of a football field per gram), materials based on graphene are poised to meet the state-of-the-art requirement of improving the energy density and lowering the cost of energy storage in contemporary ultracapacitors. With this award, the Ruoff and Bielawski groups at UT-Austin will combine their respective strengths and experiences to co-develop a new class of high performance ultracapacitors based on graphene. They will also develop a fundamental understanding of graphene-based ultracapacitors which will provide a meaningful reference for other energy storage devices, such as Li-ion batteries. Based on the breakthroughs that are possible in energy storage applications due to the exceptional electrical conductivity and extremely high surface area of graphene, the current technology in use in diverse fields such as the electric power grid, automobiles, and portable electronic devices could be revolutionized. Fully integrated into these research efforts, the Ruoff and Bielawski groups also have a number of outreach and educational activities planned, including research programs for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, continuous as well as summer research training for high school and undergraduate (including minority) students and high school teachers, additions to course materials being offered both in engineering, chemistry and physics courses, including curriculum development for grades 7-12. To maximize these efforts, collaborations with a number of local and international companies interested in developing graphene-based ultracapacitors are also planned.