Metal-coated vertically aligned carbon nanofibers
US8491999B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/30
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides electrodes comprised of metal-coated vertically aligned carbon nanofibers. Arrays of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers provide highly accessible, high density templates having large electrochemically active surface areas that may be modified to further increase the surface area of the nanofibers. The methods of the present invention involve functionalizing the surface of the nanofibers and coating the functionalized surface with metal using electroless deposition. The resulting metal-coated nanofibers form highly stable and highly reproducible electrodes having very high surface areas. The electrodes of the present invention are expected to be useful in a variety of applications, including high-density energy storage, i.e., supercapacitors and fuel cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.