Nanostructured electrode for energy storage device

Abstract

An electrode for use in energy storage devices is disclosed. The electrode includes carbide non-whiskers.

1 . An electrode comprising:
 a current collector comprising:
 a conductor layer having at least a first surface; and 
 elongated metal carbide nanostructures extending from the first surface; and 
   a carbonaceous energy storage media disposed on the first surface and in contact with the elongated metal carbide nanostructures.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the current collector comprises a cover layer disposed on the first surface, and wherein the elongated metal carbide nanostructures extend through the cover layer. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the carbonaceous energy storage media comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the carbonaceous energy storage media comprises a contact layer comprising carbon nanotubes in contact with the elongated metal carbide nanostructures extending from the first surface, and wherein the contact layer comprises a compressed layer of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         6 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The electrode of  claim 5 , wherein the contact layer comprises an aggregate of carbon nanotubes, wherein the aggregate of carbon nanotubes is a dried aggregate that is substantially free of any liquid. 
     
     
         9 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The electrode of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated metal carbide nanostructures extend through the contact layer. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode of  claim 5 , further comprising a first overlayer of carbonaceous material disposed on the contact layer. 
     
     
         16 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the first overlayer has a thickness in a direction perpendicular the first surface that is greater than a thickness of the contact layer along the same dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the contact layer has a thickness in a direction perpendicular the first surface of less than about 5 μm. 
     
     
         18 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the contact layer has a thickness in a direction perpendicular the first surface of less than about 10 μm. 
     
     
         19 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the first overlayer has a thickness in a direction perpendicular the first surface of in the range of about 10 μm to about 1,000 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the first overlayer comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein no adhesion or bonding layer is disposed between the contact layer and the first overlayer and wherein the contact layer and the overlayer adhere through Van der Waals bonding between carbonaceous material in each layer. 
     
     
         32 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated metal carbide nanostructures comprise nanorods each having a radial thickness of less than 50 nm and a longitudinal length of greater than 500 nm. 
     
     
         37 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An ultracapacitor comprising:
 at least one electrode comprising:   a current collector comprising:
 a conductor layer having at least a first surface; and 
 elongated metal carbide nanostructures extending from the first surface; and 
   a carbonaceous energy storage media disposed on the first surface and in contact with the elongated metal carbide nanostructures.   
     
     
         41 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The ultracapacitor of  claim 40 , wherein the current collector comprises a cover layer disposed on the first surface, and wherein the elongated metal carbide nanostructures extend through the cover layer. 
     
     
         78 . The ultracapacitor of  claim 40 , wherein the carbonaceous energy storage media comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         79 . The ultracapacitor of  claim 40 , wherein the carbonaceous energy storage media comprises a contact layer comprising carbon nanotubes in contact with the elongated metal carbide nanostructures extending from the first surface, and wherein the contact layer comprises a compressed layer of carbon nanotubes.