Electrospun nanocomposite membranes incorporated with PVdF/PVP and carbon blacks for supercapacitor applications

Abstract

Supercapacitors are new generation of energy storage devices using high surface area conductive or semiconductive materials. The supercapacitors show a better performance compared to the other chemical storage devices because of the high power densities and long cyclic life. Metal oxides, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, aerogel and graphene nanoflakes are some of the examples which have high surface area, storage capacitance and electrical conductivity. This study is mainly focused on the effects of carbon black inclusions on the physical properties of the polymeric membranes (or separators). Carbon black nanoparticles were incorporated with polyvinyl fluoride (PVdF) / polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) at different concentrations, and then electrospun at various conditions, such as distance, electrical potential, and pump speed. SEM images proved the well-textured polymeric membranes at nanoscale. Surface hydrophobicity properties of the membranes were investigated. FTIR results showed the atomic bonding of nanofibers in the presence of nanoscale inclusions.