Electromechanical Microcapacitors

Electrochemical double-layer (ECDL) capacitors have tremendous potential as high-power delivery energy storage elements in low-volume and low-weight microelectronics systems. ECDL electrodes based on nanostructured carbon offer the potential for exceptional power and energy performance due to their high surface area, high-conductivity, increased porosity, and options for functionalization that can provide enhanced surface area as well as high levels of pseudocapacitance. This Phase I STTR effort is developing several techniques to grow patterned arrays of vertically-aligned functionalized nanotubes in 3-dimensional arrangements. The work will add functionality to existing nanotube fabrication techniques as well as demonstrate microfluidic and packaging structures necessary realize high energy density nano-structured capacitors.