Abstract:
Researchers worldwide have extensively carried out the fabrication of supercapacitors using ionic liquid-based gel electrolytes. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are an excellent alternative electrolyte due to their high ionic conductivity and lack of safety issues associated with solid and liquid polymer electrolytes. This work highlights the performance of a GPE composed of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM]BF4 mixed with ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) as the charge carrier, entrapped in methylcellulose (MC) for its application as an electrolyte in supercapacitors.
The results of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study are in good agreement with the literature, confirming the interaction between the materials observed through the shifting of the hydroxyl band. Moreover, the addition of [BMIM]BF4 successfully reduced the degree of crystallinity and crystallite size, thus enhancing the amorphous region of the electrolytes, as observed in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) diffractogram.
The sample with 10 wt% [BMIM]BF4 (IL10) exhibits the highest ambient conductivity of (2.44 ± 0.36) × 10−2 S cm−1. The obtained ionic transference number (tion) of 0.98 confirms that ions are the dominant charge carriers. Considering its electrochemically stability up to 2.6 V within a potential range of 3.0 V, the IL10 electrolyte was chosen as a separator for application in an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC). The EDLC is characterized via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) analysis.
About the Speaker:
Born in the vibrant town of Klang, Malaysia, Mohd Fakhrul Zamani Bin Abdul Kadir is an accomplished individual. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Computational and Electronics Physics from the esteemed Universiti Malaya in 2006, setting the foundation for his academic journey. Demonstrating his determination and drive, he wasted no time in launching his career as a manufacturing executive at Texas Instruments (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Shortly thereafter, in 2007, he eagerly pursued his MSc. studies. What truly sets Mohd Fakhrul Zamani Bin Abdul Kadir apart is his exceptional achievement of completing his Ph.D. program at the Universiti Malaya in less than three years. This remarkable feat exemplifies his dedication and intellectual prowess, earning him a distinguished award in 2010. His scholarly accomplishments have undeniably positioned him as a trailblazer in his field. From 2010 to 2016, he served as a Senior Lecturer at the Physics Division, Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, Universiti Malaya, and since then, he has been promoted to the position of Associate Professor. Additionally, he held the position of Deputy Director (Academic and Development) at the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science from November 2014 to July 2016.
Throughout his tenure at the Universiti Malaya, he has secured funding and grants totaling nearly RM 1.6 Million, authored 150 journal papers indexed in ISI, boasting a remarkable H index of 45. Moreover, he has successfully supervised the completion of 6 Ph.D. and 3 Master's Degree research candidates. Demonstrating his commitment to academic rigor, he actively serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals, including those published by Springer and Elsevier. Since 2010, he has held the esteemed position of Head of the Advanced Materials Lab in the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science (PASUM). Notably, his exceptional achievements during his postgraduate studies garnered him several prestigious awards, both domestically and internationally. Among his notable accolades are the Prize Ministry of Education and Science of The Russian Federation and the Silver Medal at the International Trade Fair 2007 (Iena) in Nuremberg, Germany, awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Government.
Continuing his pursuit of research excellence, his work gained international recognition once again during his tenure as an academician at the university. His research on "Electrical analysis of amorphous corn starch-based polymer electrolyte membranes doped with LiI" was acknowledged with the exclusive 'Physica Scripta Highlights of 2013' Collection by Institute of Physics (IOP). He has received several gold medal awards in international and local invention exhibitions, including ITEX, MTE, and Pecipta. Additionally, in 2020, 2022, and 2023, he was listed as one of the world's top 2% scientists by Stanford University. To acknowledge his outstanding contributions, Universiti Malaya awarded him the most outstanding young researcher in the science discipline for the year 2022.
