Tinker, Henry Robert; (2021) Novel Synthetic Routes to Carbon Composite Electrochemical Materials. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been regarded as a major step in the advancement of graphene’s implementation into electrochemical storage mechanisms. The issue that has arisen is that by improving one beneficial characteristic, it will be detrimental for another (i.e., conductivity and surface area). The creation of polymer or nanoparticular based rGO composites allows for these issues to be navigated and potentially avoided with its correct non-damaging implementation. This thesis explores the fundamental shaping and functionalisation of reduced graphene based, before investigating the benefits and detriments to utilising the use of assistive mechanics of long chained polyanilines, tethered amino alcohol silver nanoparticles and aluminium interlayer insertions. All of these materials are monitored with an array of physical characterisation techniques to better understand the composition and the mechanical mechanisms of the undertaken electrochemical reactions. A reduced graphene oxide behaves as an appropriate base in which to deposit polyaniline, so to increase the conductivity in an attempt to prevent compromising the specific surface area and therefore improve the charge storage mechanism. This leads into interlayer aluminium metal insertion which presents a greater focus towards improving the electrolytic interaction between electrode and electrolyte by improving ion accessibility and porosity. In demonstrating rGO’s diversity, the oxygen reduction reaction can be undertaken as part of an anion exchange membrane fuel cell, studying the effects of using alternative precursors and deposition techniques in order to bind silver nanoparticles to the surface of the functionalised graphene. This exhibited preliminary results demonstrating an onset potential 70 mV more positive than the current Ag/C commercial model. The materials introduced throughout the study provide the groundwork for the improvements of supercapacitors and ORR catalysis, but also create opportunities for these composites and techniques to be used for alternative non-electrochemical research.

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