BxCyNz nanostructures for next generation energy storage systems

这项工作的重点是建立新的化学方法来产生低维BxCyNz材料，用于储能设备。BxCyNz材料的性能受到其化学成分和结构的严格控制。纳米材料设计研究小组在BxCyNz纳米材料的大规模生产方面取得了很大进展，从而为设计新型功能材料铺平了道路，这些功能材料可用于一系列储能设备，如电池、超级电容器和下一代燃料电池技术。初步试验表明，低维BxCyNz材料作为电化学析氢反应催化剂的性能令人印象深刻。通过调整它们的组成和表面化学，与经典材料系统相比，设想进一步提高它们的稳定性和效率，最终目标是产生低成本的制造路线。最近，我们发现了一种有效的策略，即在多壁碳纳米管表面涂覆一层生物质衍生物n掺杂水热碳，以提高其在酸性和碱性电解质中的氧还原反应性能。我们进一步表明，n掺杂的非晶碳涂层具有三重作用：它(i)促进MWCNTs组装成3D网络，从而改善传质，从而提高催化活性；（ii）保护MWCNTs表面的含铁活性位点免受H2O2中毒；（iii）产生含氮活性位点，从而进一步增强ORR活性和稳健性。预计BxCyNz材料或其衍生物的性能将优于该系统。此外，nanomials by Design团队对掺杂碳纳米结构进行了初步实验，并表明它们是高频超级电容器应用的合适候选者。最先进的可扩展气溶胶辅助化学气相沉积合成技术与现场监测技术相结合，使我们能够设计碳纳米管和其他材料中的掺杂水平。这些材料系统将在一系列条件下进行测试。该研究小组拥有一系列工业合作者，一旦定制功能低维纳米材料取得进展，将寻求特定的潜在设备应用。传统上，纳米材料设计研究小组的学生被鼓励在可行的情况下与学术合作者和行业合作伙伴进行合作。该研究项目属于EPSRC能源、工程、医疗保健技术、未来制造、物理科学研究领域。

The focus of this work is to establish novel chemical means to generate low-dimensional BxCyNz materials for the implementation in energy storage devices. The properties of BxCyNz materials are strictly controlled by the chemical composition and structure. The Nanomaterials by Design research team has made much progress with the larger scale production of BxCyNz nanomaterials, hence paving the way to engineering novel functional materials that could be used in a series of energy storage devices such as batteries, supercapacitors, and next generation fuel cell technologies.Preliminary tests showed that the performance of low-dimensional BxCyNz materials used as catalysts in the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction can be impressive. Through the tuning of their composition and surface chemistry it is envisaged to further improve their stability and efficiency compared to classical material systems with the ultimate aim of generating low-cost manufacturing routes.Recently, we showed that an effective strategy to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes in both acid and alkaline electrolytes by coating them with a layer of biomass derivative N-doped hydrothermal carbons. We further showed that the N-doped amorphous carbon coating plays a triple role: it (i) promotes the assembly of MWCNTs into a 3D network therefore improving the mass transfer and thus increasing the catalytic activity; (ii) protects the Fe-containing active sites, present on the surface of the MWCNTs, from H2O2 poisoning; (iii) creates nitrogenated active sites and hence further enhances ORR activity and robustness. BxCyNz materials or their derivatives are envisaged to outperform this system.Moreover, the Nanomaterials by Design team conducted preliminary experiments on doped carbon nanostructures and showed that these are suitable candidates in high-frequency supercapacitor applications. State-of-the-art scalable aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition synthesis techniques in conjunction with in situ monitoring technologies allows us to engineer the dopant levels in carbon nanotubes and other materials. These material systems will be tested under a series of conditions.The research group has a range of industrial collaborators and specific potential device applications will be sought once progress has been made with the tailored functional low-dimensional nanomaterials. Traditionally, the students of the Nanomaterials of Design research group are encouraged to engage with academic collaborators as well as industry partners whenever feasible.This research project falls within the EPSRC Energy, Engineering, Healthcare technologies, Manufacturing the future, Physical sciences research areas.