OPUS 10

"Novel, nanostructured carbogel materials with functional electrochemical properties obtained from natural polymers"

The purpose of the following project relates to a fundamental and comprehensive research carried out in order to gain knowledge about the mechanism of nanostructured carbon materials (carbogels) formation that will be obtained from the renewable precursors based on natural polymers (starch, cellulose of different botanical origin and their compositions with structuring additives). Thus, as a result of these studies, the correlation between the chemical composition of the carbogel precursor, key parameters of the preparation process as well as the electrochemical properties of the resulting carbon materials will be established. It is assumed, that finding this relationship will allow the determination of the optimal conditions for preparation process of nanostructured carbogel materials with tailored, preconceived physico- and electrochemical properties. It is believed that through materials design we can expect significant improvements that will allow fabrication of cheap, safe and effective electrode materials for energy storage and conversion systems, which can be applicable on a large scale, in the electronics, automotive and energy industry. The undertaken efforts may significantly increase in the future the welfare of societies and stimulate further development.