Conferência 7 - Avanços na síntese de nanomateriais a partir de precursores fluídicos para armazenamento de energia (Advancements in the synthesis of nanomaterials from fluidic precursors for energy storage)

The development of high energy and high-power energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, is fundamental for reducing fossil fuel dependence and for the successful implementation of zero emission energy technologies (nuclear, solar, wind, marine, etc.). Carbon materials having large specific surface areas and good electrical conductivity are highly desirable for energy storage applications. Hence, most research efforts have concentrated in the development of routes to prepare carbons that combine both properties. Recently, a time and cost-effective preparation of nanoporous carbons via an ionothermal synthesis involving fluidic ionic liquids (ILs) and task specific ionic liquids (TSILs) has been demonstrated. This route is also very attractive for the large-scale preparation of supercapacitors because of the negligible vapor pressure, low melting points and high core modularity of ILs and TSILs. However, control over particle morphology, structure and porosity was limited when compared to other synthetic methods and precursors. In this talk, strategies used to tailor the adsorption properties and morphology of 2-dimensional and of 3-dimensional materials from ILs and TSILs will be presented. First, the hard-templating synthesis of graphene-like carbon nanosheets using metal halide-based ILs precursors will be presented. Second, major improvement in the adsorption properties of boron and nitrogen-rich porous carbons prepared from TSIL anions will be discussed. Finally, a new family of di-cationic TSIL compounds capable of forming hierarchical porous networks with high surface areas and energy storage capacity will be introduced. Such advancements in the ionothermal synthesis of carbons are promising for future developments in the field of energy storage and in the design of supercapacitor electrodes for uses in portable electronic devices, transportation, and energy grids.