This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project intends to develop low cost activated carbon nanofiber based ultracapacitor electrode material with ability to store large energy and power density. Polymer precursor nanofibers from polyacrylonitrile, pitch, phenolic, and lignin will be produced using an electrospinning process. These nanofibers will be converted to activated carbon nanofiber with surface area in excess of 3 to 5 times more than the conventional electrode material used in supercapacitors. The nanofiber architecture will be tailored to achieve the desired power and energy performance by varying pore structure, electrode thickness, surface area, and other product properties.
Supercapcitors are candidates for many applications including electric vehicles, consumer and industrial electronics and power tools, power management, etc. Successful development of low cost carbon electrode material will allow supercapacitor material manufacturer to produce these devices at relatively low cost and will have broad effect on overall market in terms of cost and economics.
