Date of Award

Winter 2012

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Chemical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Xiaowei Teng

Abstract

The goal of this research was to explore the use of manganese dioxide (MnO2) for incorporation into composite pseudocapacitor (PC) electrode materials. Desired morphologies were explored and obtained to promote redox activity with increased active surface areas while simultaneously reducing the electron diffusion paths for rapid energy delivery. We report facile syntheses of a two-dimensional MnO2 material, which was fully characterized by electron microscopy, XRD, EDS and thermogravimetric analyses. Electrode materials were tested in both three-electrode and two-electrode cells. To further elucidate the properties of the evolving valence states during discharge processes, an in situ XANES cell was constructed, permitting for XANES analyses while simultaneously applying external electrical potentials. These results suggested a region of principal oxidation/reduction in order to optimize the operating voltage ranges of a MnO2-based PC. The findings in this work will provide insight into the development and implementation of practical and economical electrode materials for pseudocapacitors.

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