High Power and High Energy Electrodes Using Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

An electrode useful in an energy storage system, such as a capacitor, includes an electrode that includes at least one to a plurality of layers of compressed carbon nanotube aggregate. Methods of fabrication are provided. The resulting electrode exhibits superior electrical performance in terms of gravimetric and volumetric power density.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for fabricating an aligned carbon nanotube aggregate for an electrode, the method comprising:
 selecting a substrate; growing the aligned carbon nanotube aggregate onto the substrate; and   disposing a bonding layer onto the aligned carbon nanotube aggregate following the growth thereof, wherein the bonding layer is adapted for bonding with a current collector of the electrode.   
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 12 , further comprising compressing the aligned carbon nanotubes aggregate to provide a compressed carbon nanotube aggregate. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the bonding layer comprises at least one of a combination of iron, chromium and nickel; aluminum; gold; silver; palladium; tin; platinum and a combination of any of the foregoing materials. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 12 , further comprising treating the aligned carbon nanotube aggregate to facilitate removal from the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the treating comprises oxidizing the carbon nanotube aggregate. 
     
     
         17 . An ultracapacitor comprising: at least one electrode comprising a current collector comprising at least one layer of compressed carbon nanotubes disposed thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The ultracapacitor as in  claim 17 , wherein the electrode comprises a bonding layer disposed between the current collector and the compressed carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         19 . A method for fabricating an ultracapacitor, the method comprising: selecting an electrode comprising at least one layer of compressed carbon nanotubes disposed thereon; and including the electrode in the ultracapacitor. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19 , further comprising incorporating an electrolyte in the ultracapacitor.