(Invited) Self-Assembly Synthesis and Interfacial Control of Electrode Architectures

Abstract

Enhancement in electrochemical energy storage resides in tailored nanotextures resulting from making electrode materials with controlled compositions and structures. The complex interplay of solvent and solute structure and dynamics at the charged interface, the transport of electrolyte ions into and out of the pores, the solvation/desolvation processes occurring in pores approaching bare-ion dimensions, and formation of interfaces via chemical reactions are all important parameters. Herein, several self-assembly synthesis methods for carbon and oxide composites as electrode materials for energy storage will be discussed. The objective of this talk is to demonstrate that nanostructured carbons and oxides derived from soft-template synthesis not only entail a high storage capacity but also, most importantly, can be made to have a significantly enhanced electronic conductivity and storage capacity. This enhanced transport property in these electrode architectures is the key to providing high rate capability for the corresponding energy storage systems.