Molecular Investigation of Oxidized Graphene: Anatomy of the Double-Layer Structure and Ion Dynamics
We investigated the influence of surface oxidization of planar graphene electrodes on charge storage and ion dynamics of supercapacitors. Our approach compared two distinct ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes: tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate solvated in acetonitrile (TEA-BF4/ACN) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide solvated in acetonitrile (EMIm-TFSI/ACN). Both experimental electrochemical tests and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed positive, electrolyte-specific influences of hydroxyl-free electrode interfaces on capacitance. In the EMIm-TFSI/ACN system, the hydroxylated surface, because of its strong interaction with anions, impeded surface charge storage. On the other hand, in the case of TEA-BF4/ACN, the distribution and orientation of ACN across the system exerted vital influence on the capacitance, especially on the positive hydroxyl-free electrode. Furthermore, MD simulations of ion mobility with respect to the electrode surface in the lateral and perpendicular directions revealed significantly slower diffusion performance on the oxidized surface. Our efforts enhanced the level of fundamental understanding of the effects of hydroxyl groups on electrode–electrolyte interfaces and resulting supercapacitor performance.
- Research Organization:
- Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport Center (FIRST); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1513369
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Vol. 123, Issue 20; ISSN 1932-7447
- Publisher:
- American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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