Electric-field-induced microstructure modulation of carbon nanotubes for high-performance supercapacitors

doi:10.1007/s11706-019-0468-x

Front. Mater. Sci.

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (3) : 270-276 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-019-0468-x

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Electric-field-induced microstructure modulation of carbon nanotubes for high-performance supercapacitors

Chengzhi LUO^1,², Guanghui LIU², Min ZHANG¹(

)

¹. School of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
². Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518132, China

Download: PDF(1602 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

The growth direction, morphology and microstructure of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) play key roles for their potential applications in electronic and energy storage devices. However, effective synthesis of CNTs in high crystallinity and desired microstructure still remains a tremendous challenge. Here we introduce an electric field for controlling the microstructure formation of CNTs. It reveals that the electric field not only make CNTs aligned parallel but also improve the density of CNTs. Especially, the microstructures of CNTs gradually change under electrical field. That is, graphite sheets are transformed from the “herringbone” structure to a highly crystalline structure, facilitating the transportation of electrons. Due to the improved aligned growth direction, high density and highly crystalline microstructure, the electrochemical performance of CNTs is greatly improved. When the CNTs are applied in supercapacitors, they present a high specific capacitance of 237 F/g, three times higher than that of the CNTs prepared without electrical field. Such microstructure modulation of CNTs by electric field would help to construct high performance electronic and energy storage devices.

Keywords carbon nanotube electric field microstructure control supercapacitor electrochemical performance

Corresponding Author(s): Min ZHANG

Online First Date: 01 August 2019 Issue Date: 29 September 2019

Cite this article:

Chengzhi LUO,Guanghui LIU,Min ZHANG. Electric-field-induced microstructure modulation of carbon nanotubes for high-performance supercapacitors[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(3): 270-276.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-019-0468-x
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2019/V13/I3/270

Fig.1 (a) Schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus. (b) Macroscopic electric field vector between the cathode and the anode of about 300 V/cm.

Fig.2 SEM morphologies of CNTs prepared with different electric-field parameters: (a) 0 V/cm (low magnification); (b) 0 V/cm (high magnification); (c) 700 V/cm (low magnification); (d) 700 V/cm (high magnification).

Fig.3 HRTEM images of CNTs: (a) Low magnification and (b) high magnification of CNTs prepared under 0 V/cm electric field; (c) Low magnification and (d) high magnification of CNTs prepared under 700 V/cm electric field.

Fig.4 Raman spectra of CNTs prepared under different electric fields.

Fig.5 (a) Electrostatic forces acting upon catalyst particles and CNTs. (b) Schematic illustration for the growth mechanism of CNTs under the electric field.

Fig.6 Electrochemical performance of CNTs: (a) CV curves of CNTs prepared under 0 V/cm electric field; (b) galvanostatic charge–discharge curves of CNTs prepared under 0 V/cm electric field; (c) CV curves of CNTs prepared under 700 V/cm electric field; (d) galvanostatic charge–discharge curves of CNTs prepared under 700 V/cm electric field.

Fig.7 (a) Capacitance retention versus cycle number at 100 mA/g. (b) Comparison of specific capacitance/energy densities at different discharging current densities/power densities between CNTs prepared under 0 and 700 V/cm electric field.

Fig.8 Nyquist plots for CNTs prepared with 0 and 700 V/cm electric field showing the imaginary part versus the real part of impedance. Inset provides the data at high frequency.

1	S Iijima. Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature, 1991, 354(6348): 56–58 https://doi.org/10.1038/354056a0
2	D Yu, K Goh, H Wang, et al.. Scalable synthesis of hierarchically structured carbon nanotube-graphene fibres for capacitive energy storage. Nature Nanotechnology, 2014, 9(7): 555–562 https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.93 pmid: 24813695
3	O A Barsan, G G Hoffmann, L G J van der Ven, et al.. Single-walled carbon nanotube networks: the influence of individual tube-tube contacts on the large-scale conductivity of polymer composites. Advanced Functional Materials, 2016, 26(24): 4377–4385 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201600435
4	J Foroughi, G M Spinks, G G Wallace, et al.. Torsional carbon nanotube artificial muscles. Science, 2011, 334(6055): 494–497 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1211220 pmid: 21998253
5	D R Barbero, N Boulanger, M Ramstedt, et al.. Nano-engineering of SWNT networks for enhanced charge transport at ultralow nanotube loading. Advanced Materials, 2014, 26(19): 3111–3117 https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201305843 pmid: 24633866
6	A Thess, R Lee, P Nikolaev, et al.. Crystalline ropes of metallic carbon nanotubes. Science, 1996, 273(5274): 483–487 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.273.5274.483 pmid: 8662534
7	Q Bao, J Zhang, C Pan, et al.. Recoverable photoluminescence of flame-synthesized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and its intensity enhancement at 240 K. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2007, 111(28): 10347–10352 https://doi.org/10.1021/jp071460i
8	J F AuBuchon, L H Chen, A I Gapin, et al.. Electric-field-guided growth of carbon nanotubes during DC plasma-enhanced CVD. Chemical Vapor Deposition, 2006, 12(6): 370–374 https://doi.org/10.1002/cvde.200506444
9	Y Shiratori, H Hiraoka, Y Takeuchi, et al.. One-step formation of aligned carbon nanotube field emitters at 400 °C. Applied Physics Letters, 2003, 82(15): 2485–2487 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1566803
10	D Domingues, E Logakis, A A Skordos. The use of an electric field in the preparation of glass fibre/epoxy composites containing carbon nanotubes. Carbon, 2012, 50(7): 2493–2503 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2012.01.072
11	Y Zhang, A Chang, J Cao, et al.. Electric-field-directed growth of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes. Applied Physics Letters, 2001, 79(19): 3155–3157 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1415412
12	Q Bao, C Pan. Electric field induced growth of well aligned carbon nanotubes from ethanol flames. Nanotechnology, 2006, 17(4): 1016–1021 https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/17/4/028 pmid: 21727374
13	M Monti, M Natali, L Torre, et al.. The alignment of single walled carbon nanotubes in an epoxy resin by applying a DC electric field. Carbon, 2012, 50(7): 2453–2464 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2012.01.067
14	Z L Tsakadze, I Levchenko, K Ostrikov, et al.. Plasma-assisted self-organized growth of uniform carbon nanocone arrays. Carbon, 2007, 45(10): 2022–2030 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2007.05.030
15	K Kanayama, K Ikesugi, K Shimanaka, et al.. Field induced alignment of carbon nanotubes directly grown on metal tips. Diamond and Related Materials, 2012, 24: 83–87 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2011.11.010
16	N Romyen, S Thongyai, P Praserthdam. Alignment of carbon nanotubes in polyimide under electric and magnetic fields. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2012, 123(6): 3470–3475 https://doi.org/10.1002/app.34692
17	Q Yue, Z Shao, S Chang, et al.. Adsorption of gas molecules on monolayer MoS2 and effect of applied electric field. Nanoscale Research Letters, 2013, 8(1): 425 https://doi.org/10.1186/1556-276X-8-425 pmid: 24134512
18	J Ren, L Li, C Chen, et al.. Twisting carbon nanotube fibers for both wire-shaped micro-supercapacitor and micro-battery. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25(8): 1155–1159, 1224 https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201203445 pmid: 23172722
19	G Lota, K Fic, E Frackowiak. Carbon nanotubes and their composites in electrochemical applications. Energy & Environmental Science, 2011, 4(5): 1592–1605 https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ee00470g
20	J Zhang, C Pan. Magnetic-field-controlled alignment of carbon nanotubes from flames and its growth mechanism. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2008, 112(35): 13470–13474 https://doi.org/10.1021/jp8034852
21	C Luo, Q Fu, C Pan. Strong magnetic field-assisted growth of carbon nanofibers and its microstructural transformation mechanism. Scientific Reports, 2015, 5(1): 9062 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep09062 pmid: 25761381
22	Q Bao, H Zhang, C Pan. Electric-field-induced microstructural transformation of carbon nanotubes. Applied Physics Letters, 2006, 89(6): 063124 (3 pages) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2227620
23	V I Merkulov, A V Melechko, M A Guillorn, et al.. Alignment mechanism of carbon nanofibers produced by plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition. Applied Physics Letters, 2001, 79(18): 2970–2972 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1415411
24	W Merchan-Merchan, A V Saveliev, L A Kennedy. High-rate flame synthesis of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes using electric field control. Carbon, 2004, 42(3): 599–608 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2003.12.086
25	Y Ma, P Li, J W Sedloff, et al.. Conductive graphene fibers for wire-shaped supercapacitors strengthened by unfunctionalized few-walled carbon nanotubes. ACS Nano, 2015, 9(2): 1352–1359 https://doi.org/10.1021/nn505412v pmid: 25625807
26	C Choi, K M Kim, K J Kim, et al.. Improvement of system capacitance via weavable superelastic biscrolled yarn supercapacitors. Nature Communications, 2016, 7(1): 13811 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13811 pmid: 27976668
27	X Chen, L Qiu, J Ren, et al.. Novel electric double-layer capacitor with a coaxial fiber structure. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25(44): 6436–6441 https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201301519 pmid: 23955920
28	J A Lee, M K Shin, S H Kim, et al.. Ultrafast charge and discharge biscrolled yarn supercapacitors for textiles and microdevices. Nature Communications, 2013, 4(1): 1970 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2970 pmid: 23733169

[1]	Dandan HAN, Jinhe WEI, Shanshan WANG, Yifan PAN, Junli XUE, Yen WEI. Feather-like NiCo₂O₄ self-assemble from porous nanowires as binder-free electrodes for low charge transfer resistance[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(4): 450-458.
[2]	Qizhi TIAN, Yajun JI, Yiyi QIAN, Abulikemu ABULIZI. Synthesis of defect-rich hierarchical sponge-like TiO₂ nanoparticles and their improved photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(3): 286-295.
[3]	Yun ZHAO, Linan YANG, Canliang MA. One-step gas-phase construction of carbon-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle/carbon nanotube composite with enhanced electrochemical energy storage[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(2): 145-154.
[4]	Meenaketan SETHI, U. Sandhya SHENOY, Selvakumar MUTHU, D. Krishna BHAT. Facile solvothermal synthesis of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles for high-performance supercapacitor applications[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(2): 120-132.
[5]	Danhua ZHU, Qianjie ZHOU, Aiqin LIANG, Weiqiang ZHOU, Yanan CHANG, Danqin LI, Jing WU, Guo YE, Jingkun XU, Yong REN. Two-step preparation of carbon nanotubes/RuO₂/polyindole ternary nanocomposites and their application as high-performance supercapacitors[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(2): 109-119.
[6]	Jun ZHAO, Hang ZHAN, Hai Tao CHEN, Jian Nong WANG. Preparation and thermal properties of layered porous carbon nanotube/epoxy resin composite films[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(4): 382-388.
[7]	Yanlin JIA, Zhiyuan MA, Zhicheng LI, Zhenli HE, Junming SHAO, Hong ZHANG. Electrochemical performances of NiO/Ni₂N nanocomposite thin film as anode material for lithium ion batteries[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(4): 367-374.
[8]	Bin CAI, Changxiang SHAO, Liangti QU, Yuning MENG, Lin JIN. Preparation of sulfur-doped graphene fibers and their application in flexible fibriform micro-supercapacitors[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(2): 145-155.
[9]	Heng CHEN, Yun CHEN, Hang ZHAN, Guang WU, Jian Ming XU, Jian Nong WANG. Preparation of carbon nanotube/epoxy composite films with high tensile strength and electrical conductivity by impregnation under pressure[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(2): 165-173.
[10]	Meng LIU, Lei LIU, Yifeng YU, Haijun LV, Aibing CHEN, Senlin HOU. Synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon spheres using the modified Stöber method for supercapacitors[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(2): 156-164.
[11]	Haiyan LI, Yucheng ZHAO, Chang-An WANG. MoS₂/CoS₂ composites composed of CoS₂ octahedrons and MoS₂ nano-flowers for supercapacitor electrode materials[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(4): 354-360.
[12]	Wang YANG, Wu YANG, Lina KONG, Shuanlong DI, Xiujuan QIN. Nitrogen--oxygen co-doped corrugation-like porous carbon for high performance supercapacitor[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(3): 283-291.
[13]	Ke ZHAN, Tong YIN, Yuan XUE, Yinwen TAN, Yihao ZHOU, Ya YAN, Bin ZHAO. A two-step approach to synthesis of Co(OH)₂/γ-NiOOH/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for high performance supercapacitors[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(3): 273-282.
[14]	Jiangli XUE, Maosong MO, Zhuming LIU, Dapeng YE, Zhihua CHENG, Tong XU, Liangti QU. A general synthesis strategy for the multifunctional 3D polypyrrole foam of thin 2D nanosheets[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(2): 105-117.
[15]	Jagpreet SINGH, Aditi RATHI, Mohit RAWAT, Manoj GUPTA. Graphene: from synthesis to engineering to biosensor applications[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(1): 1-20.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed