Next-generation multifunctional ternary nanostructured materials for low cost ‎and high-‎performance energy storage devices

This proposal falls under the target research area of renewable energy and green technology. The aim of our proposed project is to develop highly efficient novel nanomaterials based electrodes for the high-performance supercapacitors and batteries. The main objectivities are to develop new class of ternary structured electrode materials consist of three components such as carbon nanostructures, organic conjugated polymers and ultra-small noble metallic nanoparticles. These novel electrode materials are low cost, maximize their specific capacitance, energy density and applicability while minimizing the fabrication costs. By achieving this, we further expect to gain scientific insights in the fields of novel functional carbon nanomaterials, growth and surface chemistry, synthetic chemistry, materials engineering, and nanotechnology as well as nano-electrochemistry (electrical, electrochemical and storage device studies). Structured organo-inorganic nanomaterials are crucial in a number of critical applications, such as in nanoscale electronics, templates for biomedical devices, energy storage devices, drug delivery systems, and high-efficiency membranes among others. Conjugated polymers connected with inorganic nano-fillers by covalent linkage, help increase versatility and flexibility of the hybrid composite nanomaterials. During this project we will establish innovative protocols for the design and synthesis of nanocomposites containing nanostructured carbons (0D, 1D, 2D and 3D) (e.g. graphene, GO, CNTs, nanodiamond, porous carbons, 2D carbons, carbon nitride, carbon quantum dots, carbon fibres, etc.) dispersed in organic conjugated polymers matrix containing ultra-size noble metal (e.g Ag, Au, Pt) nanoparticles. To achieve our aims, we will investigate the design, synthesis, and characterization of functional composites based on grafting using conjugated polymers. These novel composites will be designed in conjunction with graft polymerization techniques and composite formation methodologies to tailor the product properties. The key outcomes of this project will be an understanding of the molecular design, the structure-property relation of product and scaling to harness the unique properties of such novel nanocomposites based on organo-inorganic hybrid nanostructured materials. The electrochemical performance of the new nanostructured electrode materials will be tested for the supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries. These novel low cost and high-performance energy storage systems would be of value through extending their electrochemical performance for other nano-electronic applications such as electro-catalysts, fuel cells, solar cells, transistors, and electrochemical sensors. During 3-years research project, the main aims and clear deliverables of proposed project are given in the section 2. For better overview, hypothesis, clear approaches, necessary experiments, techniques, important aspects and comprehensive research work for developing proposed new class of efficient electrode materials are given in phase 2, 3 and 4 in the Section 4.4 of project proposal.