Electrochemical polymerization of pyrene derivatives on functionalized carbon nanotubes for pseudocapacitive electrodes.

John C Bachman,Daniel J Graham,Daniel G Nocera,Dong Young Kim,Reza Kavian,Yang Shao-Horn,Seung Woo Lee,Suguru Noda

doi:10.1038/ncomms8040

Abstract

Electrochemical energy-storage devices have the potential to be clean and efficient, but their current cost and performance limit their use in numerous transportation and stationary applications. Many organic molecules are abundant, economical and electrochemically active; if selected correctly and rationally designed, these organic molecules offer a promising route to expand the applications of these energy-storage devices. In this study, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are introduced within a functionalized few-walled carbon nanotube matrix to develop high-energy, high-power positive electrodes for pseudocapacitor applications. The reduction potential and capacity of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are correlated with their interaction with the functionalized few-walled carbon nanotube matrix, chemical configuration and electronic structure. These findings provide rational design criteria for nanostructured organic electrodes. When combined with lithium negative electrodes, these nanostructured organic electrodes exhibit energy densities of ∼350 Wh kg−1electrode at power densities of ∼10 kW kg−1electrode for over 10,000 cycles.

Highlights

Electrochemical energy-storage devices have the potential to be clean and efficient, but their current cost and performance limit their use in numerous transportation and stationary applications
Recent research efforts have been focused on organic carbonyl compounds utilizing the charge-transfer interaction between the carbonyl oxygen moiety and lithium ions (o3 V versus Li/Li þ ), which can lead to very high specific capacities
The difference in the potentials of the Cyclic voltammetry (CV) profiles can be attributed to the different electronic structures of the molecules

Summary

Introduction

Electrochemical energy-storage devices have the potential to be clean and efficient, but their current cost and performance limit their use in numerous transportation and stationary applications. Polymerized pyrene derivatives on pristine and oxidized FWNTs showed pronounced redox peaks at B3.7 V versus Li/Li þ from anion interactions with the polymer, similar to those on GCEs (Fig. 5a).

Results

Conclusion