Method for Manufacturing Metal Oxide-Loaded Carbon Nanofiber Electrodes Using Electrodeposition, and Energy Storage Devices and Filters Using the Same

High-Capacity Self-Supporting Carbon Fiber Electrodes with Metal Oxide Nanoneedles Grown Without Binders or Conductive Additives

This technology involves activating the surface of carbon nanofibers (CNF) and using electrodeposition to uniformly grow metal oxides, such as Fe2O3 and ZnO, in the form of nanoneedles or nanopillars on both the exterior and interior of the fibers.

Conventional mixing and coating processes require binders and conductive additives, which reduce the mass efficiency of the active material. Furthermore, these methods often lead to the detachment of active materials during pulverization or a decrease in the conductivity of the carbon nanofibers. Alternative methods, such as hydrothermal synthesis, are limited by long processing times and complex procedures.

This technology eliminates the need for binders and conductive additives by using the carbon nanofibers themselves as the electrode. By precisely controlling the quantity, shape, and location of the metal oxides through electrodeposition conditions, the surface area is maximized via a needle or pillar structure. Applicable to lithium-ion battery anodes, supercapacitor electrodes, and electrochemical filters for water treatment, this single electrodeposition process enables the rapid production of high-strength fiber electrodes for both energy storage and filtration purposes.

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Key Features:

• Manufacturing carbon nanofibers by electrospinning a carbon precursor solution followed by carbonization
• Immersing the activated carbon nanofibers in an electrodeposition aqueous solution containing one of the following: FeSO4, FeCl2·4H2O, Zn(NO3)2, or TiCl3
• Electrodepositing a vertical needle or pillar-shaped metal oxide layer onto the activated carbon nanofibers
• Performing additional heat treatment on the metal oxide-coated carbon nanofibers at a temperature between 350 and 450°C

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