Background: Carbon nanocages (CNC)1, a form of three-dimensional (3D) carbons, have recently garnered significant attention. Dr. Jacek Jasinski (Conn Center) and Dr. Gamini Sumanasekera (Physics and Astronomy) have developed a simple, two-step, highly scalable method to produce densely packed, interconnected CNC structures2-3. In this approach, high-quality ultra-small CNCs are synthesized through templating on densely-packed, mono-sized nickel nanoparticles formed in-situ during the thermolysis of an inexpensive sol-gel precursor comprising nickel acetate and citric acid. This innovative material shows promise for various applications, including supercapacitors, batteries, and catalysis2, 4-6.  The first step involves fabricating high-quality composite (CNC-Ni) material, comprised of CNCs filled with mono-sized nickel NPs. In the subsequent step, the removal of nickel through etching yields high-porosity CNC material. In an ongoing follow-up study, the team utilizes the CNC-Ni composite material to develop a highly efficient and stable CNC-Ni2P electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). 

Research Objectives: This project aims to: (1) utilize the CNC-Ni composite material to create a CNC-nickel sulfide composite and (2) test the composite as an HER electrocatalyst. Additionally, this project aims to: (3) develop CNC-S composite material and (4) test it as a cathode material for lithium-sulfur (LiS) batteries. Research Plan: (1) fabricate CNC-Ni composite material, (2) synthesize CNC-nickel sulfide electrocatalyst and evaluate its performance in HER, (3) fabricate CNC material, (4) develop CNC-S composite cathode material, and (5) evaluate its performance in LiS batteries. Student Outcomes: REU students will gain hands-on experience in synthesizing and characterizing CNC and CNC-based composites, as well as in electrode preparation and electrochemical testing methods. They will present their findings at the UofL undergraduate research symposium. Faculty mentors, Drs. Jasinski and Sumanasekera, will guide and collaborate with REU students in drafting conference and journal articles.

Required Skills:

Preferably, the student involved in this project should have some prior hands-on experience in chemistry, including conducting and analyzing measurements using lab equipment.

References:

1. Li, Z.; Li, B.; Yu, C.; Wang, H.; Li, Q., Recent Progress of Hollow Carbon Nanocages: General Design Fundamentals and Diversified Electrochemical Applications. Advanced Science 2023, 2206605.

2. Ziolkowska, D.; Jangam, J.; Rudakov, G.; Paronyan, T.; Akhtar, M.; Sumanasekera, G.; Jasinski, J., Simple synthesis of highly uniform bilayer-carbon nanocages. Carbon 2017, 115, 617-624.

3. Jasinski, J.; Ziolkowska, D.; Sumanasekera, G.; Jangam, J. S. D.; Henner, V. K. Methods for Synthesizing Carbon Nanocages, U.S. Patent 10,584,033. 2020.

4. Jasinski, J. B.; Ziolkowska, D. A.; Jangam, J. S. D.; Athkar, M.; Sumanasekera, G. In 3D carbons for energy and environmental technologies, AIP Conference Proceedings, AIP Publishing LLC: 2018; p 020003.

5. Rudakov, G.; Tsiberkin, K.; Ponomarev, R.; Henner, V.; Ziolkowska, D.; Jasinski, J.; Sumanasekera, G., Magnetic properties of transition metal nanoparticles enclosed in carbon nanocages. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 2019, 472, 34-39.

6. Sosunov, A. V.; Ziolkowska, D. A.; Ponomarev, R. S.; Henner, V. K.; Karki, B.; Smith, N.; Sumanasekera, G.; Jasinski, J. B., CFx primary batteries based on fluorinated carbon nanocages. New Journal of Chemistry 2019, 43 (33), 12892-12895.