LithoMOFCap
Project: Stereolithographically Microarchitectured Metal-Organic Frameworks Derived Hierarchical Free-Standing 3D Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Collaborating departments: Department of Chemistry (TUM); National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization (DTU)
Supercapacitors (SCs) have attracted great attention to solve global energy storage problems. SCs store electrical energy through two charge storing mechanisms: (i) electrical double layer capacitance (EDLC) (electrostatic surface adsorption of electrolyte ions) and (ii) electrochemical redox reactions (pseudocapacitance). An ideal SC should bridge the gap between a capacitor and a battery by offering enormous power density, high energy density, fast charging/discharging capabilities and outstanding lifespan. Typical SCs are based on sandwich-type assemblies, possessing 2D planar geometries. These limitations hinder their applicability as a source of continuous and stable power supply. In fact, poor energy storage performance of SCs is caused by the following factors: (a) inadequate materials (inaccessible active sites) (b) restricted electrode design, therefore (c) low mass loading and (d) inefficient mass/charge transport. This two-fold problem of electrode materials and electrode architecture should be solved within a single system to obtain high-performance SCs. By employing metal organic frameworks (MOFs), their hybrids, and derived composites, this project aims at addressing 4 following challenges regarding electrode materials and their architectures in a holistic way: (1) optimal morphologies and appropriate (micro-meso-macro) pore structures of electrode materials for high power density (EDLC); (2) efficient electrochemical redox activities for high energy density (pseudocapacitance); (3) regulated and reproducible electrode geometries (device scale); and (4) electrically conducting and mechanically stable 3D printed free-standing SC electrodes (atom-to-device-scale). Stereolithographically (SLA) printed metal-organic frameworks/photopolymer resin composites (lithoMOFs) will be ideal precursors to derive high surface area, homogeneous (multi)MO/C composite SC electrodes with hierarchical (micro-meso-macro)pores, accessible active sites, tailored chemical functionalities and customized geometries via simple one-step pyrolysis. For this purpose, we will synthesize rationally designed MOFs to develop stereolithographically 3D printed (MOF derived) metal oxide/carbon composite freestanding electrodes. Bridging two key aspects of electrode material and electrode architecture, this scientific strategy will combine distinct fields of organometallic and coordination chemistry and additive manufacturing (AM).
Team
Coordinating Postdoc
Dr. Main Zahid Hussain
Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry | TUM
Doctoral Candidate
M.Sc. David Gryc
Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry | TUM
Doctoral Candidate
M.Sc. Lei Da
Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry | TUM
Doctoral Candidate
M.Sc. Shufan Wu
Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry | TUM
Principal Investigator
Professor Dr. Robert A. Fischer
Chair of Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry | TUM
Principal Investigator
Professor Stehpan Sylvest Keller
National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization | DTU