Publication Date

Spring 2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemical and Materials Engineering

Advisor

Melanie McNeil

Keywords

Capacitors, Carbon, Electrochemical, Electrospin, Energy Storage, Nanopores

Subject Areas

Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Engineering

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of surface texturization on the electrical properties of glassy carbon based electrodes. Glassy carbon was textured using a block copolymer etch mask to introduce an ordered porous structure. Hybridizedetched glassy carbon electrodes were developed to enhance electrical properties. Electrodes were hybridized using titania (TiO2) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O). Physical properties of glassy carbon electrodes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The experimental setup included 1M potassium hydroxide (KOH), platinum foil as the counter electrode, and silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) as the reference electrode. The fabricated electrodes were used as the working electrodes for CV measurements. Electrochemical results indicated an increase in capacitance for etched glassy carbon electrodes, TiO2-hybridized etched glassy carbon electrodes, and Cu2O-hybridized etched glassy carbon electrodes compared to the control glassy carbon electrode. Electrospun fibers were investigated as a high surface area carbon material. Electrospun fibers were deposited on aluminum substrates and investigated using SEM.

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