Characterization of Cellulose based-nanodiamond composite for energy storage and electronic applications

In the context of environmentally friendly energy storage devices, efforts have been made in the last decade to use green materials for their development. We recently designed a cellulose-based device, using a copy paper substrate, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate electrode and a composite based on detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) as both solid-state electrolyte and separator. While at a bulk level we observed a one order of magnitude increase in conductivity with the addition of small quantities (1%w) of DND, this increase is far from understood from a molecular perspective; despite a hypothesis that the DND inclusions change chain mobility in the polymeric matrix thus allowing increased ion diffusion. Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS) is a proven experimental method with which to investigate and better understand the influence of nanoparticles on polymer network dynamics at the nanometre and pico-second. We believe direct observation of changes in chain mobility as a function of nanoparticle concentration will help us better understand the impact of the detonation nanodiamonds on the observed bulk conductivity enhancement. We therefore ask for 2 days access to the QENS spectrometer, IRIS, to study the influence of DNDs inclusions on cellulose dynamics at a local level.