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Linking sprayability to thin-film performance in CNT-redox-polymer dispersions

POSTER

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-loaded redox-polymer coatings are an attractive class of composite materials for charge storage devices, high-surface area ion-binding platforms, and selective redox mediated separation systems. While CNTs provides a nanoporous conductive network, the electroactivity of the redox-polymers grants these systems high pseudocapacitive charge-storage and ion recognition properties. Metallopolymers in particular are attractive due to their fast electron-transfer, synthetic tunability, and reversibility. However, processing CNT-metallopolymer dispersions to form uniform thin film coatings on large length scales is a substantial challenge. The sprayability, coatability, and printability of these dispersions are dictated by the extensional flow properties. Here, we link the extensional flow properties to the quality of the solution-processed thin film using capillary breakup extensional rheometry (CaBER) to capture filament formation and breakup. The CNT: polymer ratio, polymer molecular weight, polymer chemistry and solvent quality all impact the extensional rheology and corresponding thin film quality. Our results show a strong link between macroscopic flow properties, dispersion processability and final thin-film performance on the electrodes.

Presenters

  • Karthika Suresh

    Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department, University of Minnesota, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

Authors

  • Karthika Suresh

    Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department, University of Minnesota, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

  • Stephen Cotty

    Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana

  • Xiao Su

    Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana

  • Michelle A Calabrese

    Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department, University of Minnesota, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota