Self-Assembled, Nanostructured Carbon for Energy Storage and Water Treatment

This presentation will describe efforts aimed at translating a unique approach for synthesis of self-assembled nanostructured carbon into industrially viable technologies for electrode materials in two important, large-scale applications: electrochemical double-layer capacitors for energy storage, and capacitive deionization systems for water treatment. These tailorable, nanostructured materials are synthesized by self assembly in solution, followed by heat treatment. The materials can be produced using scalable chemical and materials processing operations; therefore, there is an excellent opportunity for development of manufacturing processes for cost-effective production.

The objective of our current work is to overcome issues that hinder the translation of the nanomaterial synthesis process from laboratory scale to commercial production and application. Goals include: optimization of process variables to produce materials with industrially viable performance properties, development of approaches to improve cost-effectiveness of production, and development of scalable, reliable industrial manufacturing processes. Success will lead to improved technologies to enable advances in electrical grid, transportation, and renewable energy applications; in addition, capacitive deionization (CDI) systems could save over 90 TBtu/yr in desalination applications by 2015.