Synthesis of Nano-Ceramics for Supercapacitors
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University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 1954-2016 University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2014 Synthesis of nano-ceramics for supercapacitors Azrin Akhter Chowdhury University of Wollongong Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. 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For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Synthesis of Nano-ceramics for Supercapacitors A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY from The University of Wollongong By Azrin Akhter Chowdhury B.Eng. (Hons) Materials Engineering Aug, 2014 1 CERTIFICATION I, Azrin Akhter Chowdhury, declare that this thesis, submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy, in Engineering Materials Institute, Faculty of Engineering, University of Wollongong, is wholly my own work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. The document has not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institute. Azrin Akhter Chowdhury 29 August, 2014 2 DEDICATION For my mom, dad, my brother Tushar and my beloved husband, Tanvir. 3 ABSTRACT Cross-disciplinary research into the development of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for energy storage systems is one of the most dynamic areas of current research and technology. This investigation focused on the synthesis of complex oxide nano-ceramics with dielectric constants, using a new and cost- effective material and fabrication technology described as Electric Discharge Assisted Mechanical Milling (EDAMM). This technique utilises a novel chemical reactor which combines mechanical milling and transferred arc plasma processing for the reactive processing of powders under a controlled atmosphere. This technique was used in this doctoral work to synthesise different types of complex nano- ceramics including; magnesium aluminium iron oxide (MgAl2O4), calcium copper titanium oxide CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCT), barium lanthanum titanium oxide BaLa2Ti4O12 (BLT) and bismuth titanium iron oxide Bi5Ti3FeO15 (BTF). The processed samples were then pressed into pellets and heat-treated in air to produce recrystallised microstructures with good dielectric properties. The microstructures were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), FESEM, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, while the dielectric properties were examined on an LCR meter. Dielectric measurements were performed on pressed and sintered samples using an LCR meter. For investigation of the initial processing parameters for optimum EDAMM synthesis of complex dielectrics oxides, the MgAl2O4 – MgO- Al2O3 system was studied first. Samples of MgO and Al2O3 were processed under both AC and DC type electrical discharge conditions, and under different atmospheres (e.g. Argon, Nitrogen, Helium), each of which have different dissociation temperatures. Starting 4 powders processed in an argon atmosphere under AC conditions showed the best results with high yields of nano-structural MgAl2O4 precursor powder which, after pressing and sintering in air, produced high dielectric constant MgAl2O4. The high quality of the results obtained by EDAMM processing in argon was interpreted in terms of the combination of high Ar dissociation temperature and high-energy transfer, deep penetration of ions into the surfaces of the starting powders and subsequent diffusion. This, in turn, is believed to enhance interactions between particle surfaces and the nucleation and growth of the desired new phase. DC processing resulted in poorer results due to the melting of particles of starting powders possibly because the amount of energy transfer was too high. Following determination of optimum EDAMM processing parameters, three other high dielectric constant complex oxides; CaCu3Ti4O12, BaLa2Ti4O12, Bi5Ti3FeO15 were successfully synthesised from both elemental and oxide ingredients and these experiments are described in detail in the thesis. Any variations in the dielectric properties were found to depend on the processing and microstructure of these complex oxides; the details of which are in discussed in this thesis. Of the four compositions synthesised, the best dielectric properties were found in CaCu3Ti4O12, (CCT). This was explained in terms of the internal barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) model of dielectric properties and the nature of the complex CCT microstructure, which comprised semi-conducting grains and an insulating grain boundary structure. Conventional Magneto-ball milling was also used to process complex nano-ceramics both under ball-particle impact and shear modes under an oxygen atmosphere. The dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12, (CCT) and MgAl2O4 produced under the 5 gentler shear-milling mode showed better results, apparently due to lower amounts of Fe contamination in these samples. 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my research supervisors, Associate Professor Andrzej Calka, Dr. David Wexler and Dr. Kostantin Kontantinov for their guidance and assistance throughout different stages of the present work. Their implicit trust in my research abilities not only freed me to pursue my goals, it also gave me an opportunity to learn how to manage time and allocate resources. They were ever vigilant in providing me with additional learning opportunities by supporting my attendance at international conferences. It is my great pleasure to acknowledge the considerable assistance I received from the people at the University of Wollongong, Australia, during the course of my doctoral studies. Thank you also to my fellow colleagues, Mr. Nick Mackie and Mr. Greg Tillman, whose knowledge and experience proved very helpful in this research. To my parents, I am forever indebted to their non-stop spiritual support. Most importantly, I wish to express my gratitude to my beloved husband, Tanvir Saqlain whose unfailing love, patience, perseverance and encouragement allowed me to concentrate on my studies. 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE…………………………………………………………………………….......1 CERTIFICATION…………………………………………………………...............2 DEDICATION………………………………………………………………….…….3 ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………….……..…..4 AKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………7 TABLE OF CONTENT……………………………………………………………...8 LIST OF FIGURES ..... …………………………………………………………......12 LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………….………………….16 LIST OF EQUATIONS …………………………….…………………....................17 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS……………….………………………….......................18 LIST OF ABREVIATIONS………………………….………………......................19 1.INTRODUCTION…………………………………….………………………....21 2. LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.1 Introduction…………………….……………………………………………...22 2.2 Energy storage devices………………………………………….………..…...23 2.2.1 Fuel cells………………………………….……………………………... 24 2.2.2 Conventional Batteries……………………………………….…………..24 2.2.3 Conventional Capacitors…………………………………………………25 2.2.4 Supercapacitors/ ……………….………………………………………...25 2.3 Conventional capacitor properties…………………………….….…………..28 2.3.1 Capacitance and Dielectric properties of different types of oxide materials……………………………………………….…………………………….28 2.3.2 Capacitance……………………………………………………………..28 2.3.3 Capacitor leakage……………………….……………………………....30 2.3.4 Dielectric Strength…………………………………….….…………….30 2.3.5 Dielectric polarizability…………………………….……………….….30 2.3.6 Breakdown Voltage ……………………………………………............30 2.3.7 Design of a capacitor……………………………………….………….31 2.4 Energy storage density measurement for dielectric capacitor………..…......32 2.5 Complex ceramic oxides……………………………………………………..33 8 2.5.1 Magnesium Aluminium Oxide (MgAl2O4)…………… … ……….......34 2.5.2 Calcium Copper Titanium Oxide ( CaCu3Ti4O12)………… ………….35 2.5.3 Bismuth Titanium Iron oxide (Bi5Ti3FeO15)………… … …………….36 2.5.4 Barium Lanthanum Titanium Oxide (BaLa2Ti4O12)…… … …...........37 2.6 Conventional Synthesis of Ceramic Oxides…………………..……..……...37 2.6.1 Solid State Reaction…………………………………..……………...39 2.6.2 Sol-gel Processing……………………………………........................40 2.6.3