POPCORN-LIKE GROWTH OF GRAPHENE-CARBON NANOTUBE MULTI-STACK HYBRID THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARCHITECTURE FOR ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES

摘要

Graphene-carbon nanotube multi-stack three-dimensional architectures (graphene-CNT stacks) are formed by a “popcorn-like” growth method, in which carbon nanotubes are grown throughout the architecture in a continuous step. Alternating layers of graphene and a transition metal are grown by a vapor deposition process. The metal is fragmented and etched to form an array of catalytic sites. Carbon nanotubes grow from the catalytic sites in a vapor-solid-liquid process. The graphene-CNT stacks have applications in electrical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and batteries. The directly grown carbon nanotube array between graphene layers provides ease of ion diffusion and electron transfer, in addition to being an active material, spacer and electron pathway.