Importance for Society:
The fundamental information attained from this project is valuable for manipulating the properties of IL/graphene composites. Essentially, the insight gained from this research is valuable in the engineering of interface structures, which in turn will provide a better handle on the efficiency of energy storage devices derived from these materials. Knowledge of the interfacial structure of ionic liquids on graphene is further helpful for tuning the work function of graphene. In other words, ionic liquids have a significant effect on the density of states of graphene which in turn affects the capacitance of supercapacitors.
Apart from the above-mentioned, ionic liquids also have other exceptional physicochemical properties such as non-flammable and high thermal stability. These properties further make them suitable electrolytes for batteries. For instance, Lithium-ion batteries are widely using in variety of electronic devices. However, their implementation for energy storage and in vehicle applications has been slowed by safety concerns surrounding the use of large-scale lithium cells. Undesired reactions between the battery components and the liquid organic electrolyte, triggered by unpredictable events such as short circuits or local overheating, lead to an exothermic reaction of the electrolyte with the electrode materials, producing a rapid increase of the battery temperature and, eventually, to fire or explosion. The unique properties of ionic liquids may help to solve the problem as they are practically non-flammable, which is a significant safety asset. The replacement of the conventional, flammable and volatile, organic solutions with ionic-liquid-based, lithiumion- conducting electrolytes may greatly reduce, if not prevent, the risk of thermal runaway.
