Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Université de Sherbrooke
$88,447.00
Nanotube synthesis by thermal plasma for lithium-ion batteries / synthèse de nanotubes par plasma thermique pour piles lithium-ion
FY 2013-14
Summary
Excellent physicochemical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) make them good candidates for many applications ranging from lightweight materials for transportations to new catalytic supports for other functional materials. In a collaborative effort between the Université de Sherbooke (UdeS), l'Institut de recherche de l'Hydro-Québec (IREQ)., a new 50-kW induction thermal plasma system has been recently redesigned and started up for the mass production of SWCNTs as well as other type of nanotubes such as silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) and Li4Ti5O12 nanotube in a continuous manner to make the Li-ions batteries (LIBs) more powerful by improving the performance of the electrodes particularly the anode. The nanotube synthesis process is based on the evaporation of the raw feedstock materials by using a radio frequency (RF) plasma torch as a heat source to activate generation of the precursor species involved in the formation of SWCNTs. In the last 4 years, UdeS with others partners has successfully demonstrated that the SWCNT can be continuously synthesized at a purity level of above 30 % using RF inductively coupled plasma reactor with a fraction of the cost of conventional technologies.To realize the industrial applications, however, practical methods for the precise control of nanostructure as well as direct modification of their chemical properties are essentially required to tailor their functional performance specifically. In this project, it is proposed to develop an economically viable reactor capable of producing a minimum of one kilogram of product material per day, containing SWCNTs, SiNTs and Li4Ti5O12 nanotube with a concentration of at least 95 weight-percent. This goal will only be realized through optimizing the feeding rate of the powder feeder, upgrading the data acquisition system, controlling the mass balance of the system, characterizing different types of the reactant mixtures with the metal catalysts for each type of nanotubes and finally purifying the nanotube containing materials by an in-situ and post-processing treatments to be used in LIBs.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
428676-2011
Name nom
Soucy, Gervais
Department département
Génie chimique et génie biotechnologique
Organization id
68
Institution établissement
Université de Sherbrooke
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2013
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
88447
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
500
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Research subject code
2002
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Materials processing
Research subject fr
Transformation des matériaux
Partie
2
Nb partie
3
Application title
Nanotube synthesis by thermal plasma for lithium-ion batteries / synthèse de nanotubes par plasma thermique pour piles lithium-ion
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Excellent physicochemical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) make them good candidates for many applications ranging from lightweight materials for transportations to new catalytic supports for other functional materials. In a collaborative effort between the Université de Sherbooke (UdeS), l'Institut de recherche de l'Hydro-Québec (IREQ)., a new 50-kW induction thermal plasma system has been recently redesigned and started up for the mass production of SWCNTs as well as other type of nanotubes such as silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) and Li4Ti5O12 nanotube in a continuous manner to make the Li-ions batteries (LIBs) more powerful by improving the performance of the electrodes particularly the anode. The nanotube synthesis process is based on the evaporation of the raw feedstock materials by using a radio frequency (RF) plasma torch as a heat source to activate generation of the precursor species involved in the formation of SWCNTs. In the last 4 years, UdeS with others partners has successfully demonstrated that the SWCNT can be continuously synthesized at a purity level of above 30 % using RF inductively coupled plasma reactor with a fraction of the cost of conventional technologies.To realize the industrial applications, however, practical methods for the precise control of nanostructure as well as direct modification of their chemical properties are essentially required to tailor their functional performance specifically. In this project, it is proposed to develop an economically viable reactor capable of producing a minimum of one kilogram of product material per day, containing SWCNTs, SiNTs and Li4Ti5O12 nanotube with a concentration of at least 95 weight-percent. This goal will only be realized through optimizing the feeding rate of the powder feeder, upgrading the data acquisition system, controlling the mass balance of the system, characterizing different types of the reactant mixtures with the metal catalysts for each type of nanotubes and finally purifying the nanotube containing materials by an in-situ and post-processing treatments to be used in LIBs.
