Synthesis, stability, structure and physicochemical properties of ionic liquids with carbon nanostructures as energy storage materials

Funding: 1 579 324, 00 PLN

Duration: 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2021

Leader: University of Silesia, Katowice
Partner: Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice

Abstract

The scientific objective of the project is to discover the mechanisms of stabilization of carbon nanostructures in ionic liquids (ILs) and heat transfer in IoNanofluids (Ionic Liquid Nanofluids), taking into account the structure and physicochemistry of nanostructures and ILs as well as interactions between nanostructures and the base liquids. Thermodynamically stable IoNanofluids containing such nanostructures and ILs will be obtained and thermal properties will be correlated with the fluid structure. The concept of the project includes the use of innovative experimental methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) under cryogenic conditions (cryo-TEM) and high-pressure thermal conductivity for characterizing carbon nanostructures, ILs and IoNanofluids. IoNanofluids have thermophysical properties which can significantly improve transfer and efficiency of the heat storage cycles. Systematic study of those systems using the proposed research methods will allow to determine the mechanism of stabilization of nanoparticles in ILs and the mechanism of heat transfer in IoNanofluids. The mechanism will take into account interactions between the nanoparticels and the base liquid and the structure of the nanoparticles themselves as well as empirical verification of the factors affecting it (selection of ionic liquid – presence/absence of hydrogen bonds, contribution of van der Waals interactions, steric interactions and surface forces, chemoselective functionalization (carboxylation) or graphitization of carbon nanostructures, intermolecular interactions and surface layer structure of nanoparticles in IoNoanofluids, temperature, pressure). The proposed investigations will allow to verify whether it is possible to obtain stable hybrid fluids composed of carbon nanostructures and selected ILs, and (a) how morphology and physicochemistry of carbon nanostructures change the properties of IoNanofluids in terms of thermal properties and, (b) how nanostructure parameters and the interactions between nanostructures and the base liquid influence the mechanism of heat transfer in the fluids containing them

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