Catalyst Arrays in Nanopatterned Carbon Substrates for Carbon Nanotube-Based Ultra-Capacitors

Electrochemical ultracapacitors offer significant promise in bridging the performance gap between batteries and capacitors. Due to their high power density and capability for repeated charging or discharging in seconds for millions of cycles, ultracapacitors are essential to power level smoothing and pulsed power supply for OSD applications. In this program, Materials and Electrochemical Research (MER) Corporation and the University of Arizona propose to demonstrate the feasibility of depositing periodic arrays of nanoparticles on pre-patterned substrates for controlled nanotubes growth. The proposed process involves the development of sub-50nm diameter nanoimprinted patterns of holes on carbon substrates and trapping the catalyst nanoparticles in these nanohole arrays. This catalyst trapped nanohole array substrate will be used to grow multiwalled carbon nanotubes which can be utilized to fabricate high performing ultracapacitors. To place the Phase I technical objectives and work plan into context, we succinctly reprise the current achievements of our nanoimprinting technique for developing nanohole arrays and the challenges that need to be addressed for a successful completion of Phase I. This proposed supercapacitor is very innovative and will provide a longer and more reliable service lifetime with reduced ultracapacitor size and weight.