(166a) Microwave Initiated Nanomanufacturing Towards Energy Applications

Nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), metal oxides, and polymers, possess superior mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, lead to broad applications in composite materials, smart structures, chemical sensors, energy storage and nano-electronic devices. However, the high cost and difficulty in getting large scale, high quality nanomaterials remain challenges. We demonstrate a facile and scalable microwave approach for the direct growth of CNT, nanostructured metal chalcogenides on a wide range of substrates, including conducting polymers, graphenes and graphite powders and so on. The microwave initiated nanomaterial growth will take only 20-30 seconds under the microwave irradiation at room temperature in air, no need of any inert gas protection, and additional feed stock gases, usually required in CVD approach. Preliminary results demonstrated the as-produced nanocomposites can be used for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and electrochemical energy storage such as supercapacitor applications.