A Quick Publication

The Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program at UNC charlotte would like to congratulate Derek Peloquin and Nathan Behm for getting their team project work published in a peer-reviewed journal. The advance copy of their article, “High-throughput microwave synthesis and characterization of NiO nanoplates for supercapacitor devices” is available online at the Springer’s Journal of Materials Science(DOI: 10.1007/s10853-012-6929-6). As Nathan remarks, “It’s cool to have a publication out of one semester work.”

Nathan Behm and Derek Peloquin joined the Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program last year, in 2011. They were assigned to Dr. Poler’s group for their interdisciplinary team project in the following spring semester.

The basic idea, as Nathan explains, in the beginning was to make a hybrid device, which combines the high power density of Single walled Carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) with high energy storage capacity of pseudo-capacitive metal oxides like Nickel oxide. Their literature study revealed a recent publication describing synthesis of novel Hexagonal nickel oxide (NiO) nanoplate-based electrochemical supercapacitors; however, as Derek points out, “ We didn’t have access to an autoclave and our efforts with an oil bath type of heating system also didn’t work out. However, Dr. Poler knew that Dr. Murphy in the chemistry dept. has a microwave reactor so he suggested that we use it. And in the end, it resulted in improved morphology and uniformity of nanostructures. Also we could make batches of these in the microwave reactor!” Both Derek and Nathan attribute their success largely to the motivation and support of their team project supervisor Dr. Jordan C. Poler who, according to them, “..warrants success given how hard he pushes.” It therefore doesn’t appear unusual that even the previous team project mentored by Dr. Poler had a publication out of their work.

Staff correspondent
Gaurav Singh
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program