Synthesis and optimization of carbon nanofiber templated polypyrrole

Official URL: http://192.168.1.20/record=b1225678 (Table of Contents)

In order to suggest a new promising material to be used as an active material in supercapacitor applications, carbon nanofiber templated Polypyrrole was designed and synthesized. The common conducting polymer/ carbon nanofiber composites used in capacitive applications were usually physically mixed composites of the materials. In this thesis, the outcomes are investigated when these materials of interest are chemically bonded via electropolymerization. Carbon nanofibers with a thickness of 100 nm to 150 nm were chosen to act as a template for the conducting polymer to grow on. The electropolymerization was successful and it is proven by voltammetric measurement, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra, Fourier Transform Infrared spectra and Scanning Electron Microscopy images. After the deposition of Polypyrrole on carbon nanofibers were achieved, the material was optimized by means of the deposition amount and speed. The results were supported by voltammograms, specific capacitance calculations and SEM images. Polymers with different deposition amounts and speeds are compared. The sample deposited by six times cycling at 25 mV/s is found to posses both the highest specific capacitance and the highest surface area.