Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
Supercapacitors and advanced batteries capable of rapid charge and discharge need conductive three dimensional porous electrodes. The high conductivities of porous metal electrodes are attractive. However, the surface areas of such electrodes are still well short of those achievable in carbon. One approach to formation of high surface area porous metal electrodes is to electrodeposit metal into nanostructured templates on 3-D scaffolds such as nickel foam. By careful control of composition and voltage thin films of mesoporous silica can be deposited onto these 3-D templates. Removal of the templating surfactant produces a very high surface area mesoporous coating. Metal can then be plated into the mesoporous silica, which, after removal of the silica, leaves a high surface area 3-D porous electrode.