| Dec 12, 2012 |
Carbon nanotube production and application in energy storage
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(Nanowerk News) In order to enhance the application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in electrochemical energy storage, researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing reviewed the production and purification technology of CNTs, as well as the application in Li-ion battery, supercapacitors, and asymmetric supercapacitors ("Carbon nanotube production and application in energy storage").
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In detail, the formation mechanism, the effects influencing the diameter, diameter distribution, yield and growth rate of CNTs, and the reactor technology for scale up were thoroughly discussed. And the purity, the type of impurities and factors influencing the formation of impurities, and the purification method of CNTs were summarized on the basis of the requirements in the electrochemical use.
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Finally, the performance of CNTs used in energy storage systems and the challenge for the commercialization were analyzed. The review provides abundant information for better understanding of the relationship between the structure, property of CNTs and its performance.
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As the reviewers write in their introduction:
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"Owing to its perfect seamless tubular structure constructed
by Sp2 hybridized carbon, carbon nanotubes
(CNTs), in theory, were free of dangling bonds on the
side wall and, consequently, exhibited extraordinary
excellent mechanical and electrical properties.
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"In the
past two decades, numerous efforts were made to understand
its property, to prepare them in a controllable and
scalable manner, and to find potential applications in
nanodevice, composites, and energy storage. Especially,
the recent burst in the investigation of clean energy
storage systems, such as the secondary batteries and
supercapacitor (SC), provided new opportunity to
use CNTs to replace the conventional activated carbon
or carbon black as electrode material or conductive filler.
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"Definitely, the performance of CNTs in these systems
with different requirements depends on the properties
of materials available in the current stage.
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"It, therefore,
is essential to review the synthesis and purification technology
of CNTs and to summarize their performance in
electrochemical energy storage, for deep understanding
of the relationship between the structure, purity and their
electrochemical performance, the advantages, as well as
the challenges in application."
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