Electrochemical performance of silicon nanostructures in low-temperature ionic liquids for microelectronic applications

Successful implementation of silicon nanostructures as suitable electrodes for microcapacitors performing at low temperatures (up to −40 °C) has been realized. In order to avoid the freezing of the electrolyte solution, two ionic liquids with low freezing points have been synthesized and applied as the electrolyte. Silicon nanotrees selected as the most useful electrode material have been combined with the mixture of two miscible ionic liquids (EMIM TFSI + AMIM TFSI). This allowed the operational voltage equal to 3 V to be achieved. The specific capacitance of 377 μF cm −2 resulted in 2 mJ cm −2 energy output. Furthermore, all electrode materials subjected to the investigation were able to deliver the energy even at high frequency (120 Hz). Hence, the application in microelectronics has been considered. Successful implementation of silicon nanostructures as suitable electrodes for microcapacitors performing at low temperatures (down to −40 °C) has been realized.