Synthesis of functional nanostructured carbon and their application in energy and lubrications

The field of materials science is immense and diverse. Among all Carbon materials is very popular due to a unique combination of physical and chemical properties such as high electrical conductivity, high surface area, good resistance to corrosion, high thermal stability, and high chemical stability in non-oxidizing environments and particular mechanical properties. Carbon materials are easy to process, provide a wide variety of structures and textures, have diverse surface chemical properties and are compatible with other materials, thus are ideal for composites as well. Carbon is an extraordinary element and of great importance to the scientist as well as for technologist. Its unique characteristics made it versatile for many applications areas ranging from house holds as well as major industries on one hand in high tech aerospace, defence, nuclear energy and new energy source program on the other hand. Nanocarbon technologies deal with many forms of carbon (balls, tubes, sheets, diamonds, graphenes, etc.), among which nanotubes and graphene/nanoplates are most widely used in recent time. Graphene and graphene nanoplates offers the unique set of thermal, mechanical physical and electronic properties, which makes it the ideal material for various engineering and technological applications. These unique and fascinating properties have resulted in many potential applications for high volume as well as for the nich areas. The vertically aligned carbon nanotubes were developed with controlled structures of field emission applications. The energy sector is one such sector where many research groups are attempting to develop a super-capacitor with high energy density and power density. Transition metal oxides or conductive polymers are essential candidates for achieving such pseudo-capacitive behaviour in these composites. Porous and high surface area carbon materials are emerging for the electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. Nanocarbons also find applications in Lithium ion battery applications as it increases the reversible capacity, enhances the rate capability and improves the cyclability. Carbon nano materials are highly anisotropic in nature and the properties are dependent on processing route as well as the processing conditions. Optimization of processing parameters and controlling the structure are the key factors for such application, and therefore efforts in the centre to get the better carbon nanomaterials are being persuaded. Keeping these emerging applications of carbon nanomaterials in view, centre for carbon materials has initiated the efforts in the electrode development for supercapacitor applications. Nanocarbons, especially graphene due to its self-lubricating property attracted a lot of interest for lubricant applications. Graphene as a nano-additive in lubricant oils theoretically improves its lubricating properties and thermal properties as well. Graphene, with its various forms (few layer and multi-layer) is a potential replacement of multiple additives being used in present date. The transition from conventional additives to carbon Nano-additives will lead to a big leap towards an efficient lubricant also persuaded in the centre apart from other activities. (author)