(487c) Bottom-up All Aqueous Assembly Approach for the Synthesis of Lightweight 3D Carbon Nanocomposite Aerogels for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Applications

Novel Bottom-Up All Aqueous Assembly Approach for the Synthesis of Lightweight 3D Carbon Nanocomposite Aerogels for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Applications

Brigit A. Duffy¹, Gabrielle M. Milanesa¹, An B. Vu,¹ Jordan M. Davis¹, Duncan R. Day¹, Pamela L. Sheehan², Preston C. Haney², Harry L. Moore Jr², F. John Burpo¹, Enoch. A. Nagelli^1*

¹Department of Chemistry & Life Science, Chemical Engineering Program, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York 10996

²U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Army Futures Command, CCDC Armaments Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806

Carbon nanomaterials constitute an ideal miniaturized composite platform for integration with other solid-state electrode materials. Self-assembly has been recognized as an effective strategy for the bottom–up synthesis of 3D macrostructures using graphene and CNTs as building blocks. [1, 2] We demonstrate a novel, all-aqueous, and scalable 3D platform materials design process for the synthesis of carbon nanocomposite aerogels to serve as porous ultralightweight electrodes for the next generation energy storage and conversion applications. Specifically, the negatively charged surface functional groups on graphene oxide and oxidized CNTs will be the sites for electrostatic coordination of positively charged noble metal cations and polyelectrolytes from aqueous solutions. This enables the incorporation of carbon nanomaterials with any polyelectrolyte and noble metal nanostructures with precise connection of each of the individual components while maintaining their unique properties.[3-5] Through solution-based self-assembly followed by critical point drying and chemical reduction, we can develop hierarchical porous 3D nanocomposite aerogels comprised of carbon nanomaterials with any precious or noble metal nanostructures (Pt, Pd, Au, Ru, Ag, and Ru) and polyelectrolyte. Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and impedance spectroscopy are used to determine the electrical and ionic conductivity, electrocatalytic activity, and supercapacitor performance of the aerogels as lightweight high-power and energy density electrodes.

KEYWORDS: Three-dimensional Nanomaterials, Nanocomposites, Aerogels, Electrocatalysts, Batteries, Fuel Cells

CONTACT: Enoch A. Nagelli, Email: enoch.nagelli@westpoint.edu

References

[1] L. Dai, “Intelligent Macromolecules for Smart Devices: From Materials Synthesis to Device Applications”, Springer: Berlin, 2004.

[2] L. Dai, (Ed.) “Carbon Nanotechnology: Recent Developments in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science and Device Applications”, Elsevier: Amsterdam, 2006.

[3] M. Yanga, Y. Houd, N. A. Kotov, “Graphene-based multilayers: Critical evaluation of materials assembly techniques” Nano Today 2012, 7, 430.

[4] E. Nagelli, R. Naik, Y. Xue, Y. Gao, M. Zhang, and L. Dai “Sensor arrays from multicomponent micropatterned nanoparticles and graphene” Nanotechnology 2013, 24, 444010.

[5] E. Nagelli, L. Huang, A. Q.‐Z. Dai, F. Du, L. Dai, “3D Vertically-Aligned CNT/Graphene Hybrids from Layer-by-Layer Transfer for Supercapacitors” Part. Part. Syst. Charct. 2017, 34, 1700131. Article in Special Issue of Graphene Oxide Liquid Crystals.

[6] F. J. Burpo, E. A. Nagelli, L. A. Morris, J. P. McClure, M. Y. Ryu, J. L. Palmer. “Direct Solution-Based Reduction Synthesis of Au, Pd, and Pt Aerogels.” J. Materials Research. 2017, 32 (22), 4153-4165. (Invited Paper) Featured in MRS Bulletin: “Metallic aerogels synthesized in one-step process,” December 18, 2017.