(201r) Polyelectrolyte-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes/Platinum Nanowire Hybrid Composite Electrodes Via Electrostatic Self-Assembly for Energy Storage and Conversion Applications

Polyelectrolyte-wrapped Carbon Nanotubes/Platinum Nanowire Hybrid Composite Electrodes via Electrostatic Self-Assembly for Energy Storage and Conversion Applications

CDT Dade Mortimer, CDT An Vu, MAJ Stephen Winter, COL F. John Burpo, Dr. Enoch Nagelli^*

Department of Chemistry & Life Science

United States Military Academy, West Point, New York 10996

^*Corresponding Author: Dr. Enoch Nagelli, Email: enoch.nagelli@usma.edu

In addition, recent advances in nanotechnology and materials science has led to the development of novel materials with different size, geometry and surface area. However, the incorporation of these nanomaterials into energy storage and conversion systems requires the precise connection of the individual components with other materials at the molecular level. Chemical interaction between these materials is significant. Understanding surface chemistry is critical in facilitating the integration of nanomaterials into useful building-blocks and functional components in applications such as high speed electronics, optoelectronics, and energy storage and conversion devices.^1,2 For example, carbon nanotubes are a promising nanoscale platform to construct next generation supermolecular systems for high performance, light-weight, and configurable energy storage devices.^1,2 However, the design, synthesis, and assembly of carbon nanotubes with well-defined structure and the connection from nanoscale entities to these real world applications continues to present big challenges.^1,2 Therefore, we developed a facile and scalable aqueous solution-based process to develop polyelectrolyte/carbon nanotube (CNT)/metal nanowire composite materials for advanced ultra-lightweight solid hybrid nanomaterial that is mechanically configurable and highly conductive. Low-cost poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was used to disperse and functionalize CNTs in water to render a nanocomposite with negative charge density.³ Sequential electrostatic self-assembly is then used to deposit Pt nanowires onto the PAA/CNT composites to form 3D polyectrolyte nanocomposites for thin film electrodes or aerogels.³ In addition, by controlling the pH, we can alter the negative charge density of the PAA/CNTs composite which will enables us to selectively control the electrostatic deposition, assembly, and reduction of Pt to form a 3D hybrid metal and carbon nanocomposite.³ Therefore, this research will contribute towards strengthening research and development of innovative lightweight batteries and supercapacitors and reconfigurable actuator materials. We developed a general cost-effective aqueous solution based approach to form hybrid metal/CNT nanocomposite films and aerogels consisting of any noble metal to render selective properties.

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. K. Saint-Aubin, P. Poulin, H. Saadaoui. M. Maugey, C. Zakri “Dispersion and Film-Forming Properties of Poly(acrylic acid)-Stabilized Carbon Nanotubes” Langmuir 2009, 25, 13206.

5. 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.

6. D. Yu, E. Nagelli, R. Naik, and L. Dai “Asymmetrically Functionalized Graphene for Photodependent Diode Rectifying Behavior” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 6575.