Structural and functional characteristics of the ionic liquid – graphene interface

 Electrochemical energy systems are key for developing sustainable and reliable energy supply to meet the future energy demands. Volatility and flammable nature of conventional electrolytes, however, limit their safe usage in energy applications. Ionic liquids (ILs), a new class of electrolytes show remarkable chemical and thermal stability. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, showcases key properties suitable for electrode material such as high specific surface area and good electrical conductivity. However, a major hurdle in the use of IL/graphene composites in “materials for energy” applications is the lack of knowledge and control of the ILs nanostructure and its impact on the electronic properties of graphene electrodes: 
(1) Information on the lateral nanostructure of ILs at electrified graphene is lacking;
(2) There are no established methods to identify molecular level interactions between ions of ionic liquids and graphene ;
(3) There is no direct method to find out how much energy ILs can store on graphene electrodes. 
Therefore, this project will address the above-mentioned challenges. Insights gained from this research will prove valuable in the engineering of the graphene/ILs interface structure, which in turn will provide a better handling efficiency of energy storage devices.