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Updated: May 31, 2026
08:07
Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates
Published on: June 18, 2013
Building energy storage device on a single nanowire
Sanketh R Gowda1, Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, Xiaobo Zhan
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
Nano Letters
|July 16, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed a novel hybrid electrochemical energy storage device using nickel-tin and polyaniline nanowires. This miniaturized system, free of lithium, offers high energy and power density for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Hybrid electrochemical energy storage devices integrate battery and supercapacitor benefits for enhanced energy and power density.
- Existing systems often rely on lithium-based electrodes, posing limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel hybrid electrochemical energy storage system utilizing a lithium-free Ni-Sn/PANI (polyaniline) electrochemical system.
- To showcase the potential for ultimate miniaturization in energy storage devices engineered on a single nanowire.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a composite nanostructure electrochemical device featuring Ni-Sn anode and PANI cathode nanowires.
- Encapsulation of nanowire components within a conformal polymer core-shell separator.
- Testing of parallel arrays of these nanowire devices in LiPF(6) electrolyte.
Main Results:
- The Ni-Sn/PANI system operates via a hybrid mechanism involving lithium intercalation at the anode and PF(6)(-) doping at the cathode.
- Achieved reversible areal capacity of approximately 3 μAh/cm(2) at a current rate of 0.03 mA/cm(2).
- Demonstrated the feasibility of engineering all essential energy storage components onto a single nanowire.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanowire-based device represents a significant advancement in miniaturized energy storage.
- This lithium-free hybrid system offers high energy and power density, paving the way for next-generation portable electronics and integrated power solutions.
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