Cellulose infiltrated carbon nanotube composites as supercapacitors and batteries

CELL 245

Trevor J. Simmons, simmot@rpi.edu, Department of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 Eighth Street, Troy, NY 12180, Daniel P. Hashim, hashid@rpi.edu, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th street, Troy, NY 12180, Robert J Linhardt, linhar@rpi.edu, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, and Pulickel M. Ajayan, ajayan@rice.edu, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251.
We describe the production of a flexible composite comprised of cellulose and carbon nanotubes (CNT) that is incorporated into the design of biocompatible supercapacitors and batteries. Room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) is used to overcome the poor solubility of cellulose in conventional solvents. Aligned multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) are grown on silica using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The MWNT are covered with cellulose dissolved in the RTIL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Most of the RTIL is removed in a 3 h ethanol wash, while residual RTIL ions are required to act as electrolytes in the supercapacitors created from the composite materials. Complete removal of the RTIL and replacement with new electrolyte is required for the production of batteries. The material is removed from the ethanol soak and dried in vacuo. Layering this composite creates a supercapacitor with a remarkably high power density of 1.5 kW•kg-1, similar to commercially available supercapacitors (0.01-10 kW•kg-1).
 

Biobased Nanocomposites and Nanotechnology
1:00 PM-5:15 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. R09, Oral

Division of Cellulose & Renewable Materials

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008