Preparation and properties of pitch carbon based supercapacitor

Using the mesophase pitch as precursor, KOH and CO2 as activated agents, the activated carbon electrode material was fabricated by physical-chemical combined activated technique for supercapacitor. The influence of activated process on the pore structure of activated carbon was analyzed and 14 F supercapacitor with working voltage of 2.5 V was prepared. The charge and discharge behaviors, the properties of cyclic voltammetry, specific capacitance, equivalent serials resistance (ESR), cycle properties, and temperature properties of prepared supercapacitor were examined. The cyclic voltammetry curve results indicate that the carbon based supercapacitor using the self-made activated carbon as electrode materials shows the desired capacitance properties. In 1 mol/L Et4NBF4/AN electrolyte, the capacitance and ESR of the supercapacitor are 14.7 F and 60 m?, respectively. The specific capacitance of activated carbon electrode materials is 99.6 F/g; its energy density can reach 2.96 W·h/kg under the large current discharge condition. There is no obvious capacitance decay that can be observed after 5000 cycles. The leakage current is below 0.2 mA after keeping the voltage at 2.5 V for 1 h. Meanwhile, the supercapacitor shows desired temperature property; it can be operated normally in the temperature ranging from -40 ℃ to 70 ℃.     

超大容量双电层电容器的研制

双电层电容器是一种功率密度高和能量密度大的新型储能元件。研究以活性炭为材料的双电层电容器的制作，对制作压力、活性物质涂载量及电解液浓度进行了研究，摸索出电容器的制作工艺。实验过程中采用循环伏安、交流阻抗和恒电流充放电方法对电极和电容器进行性能测试。结论是活性炭电极在制作压力为20MPa，活性物质涂载量为30mg／cm^2，电解液为7moL／L的KOH水溶液时性能最优。实验单体小电容器的比容量可达54．01F／g，并研制出容量高达1247．32F的超大容量电容器。     

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of C/PANI composite electrode materials

1 INTRODUCTIONRecently , surpercapacitor has attracted greatattention for its unique power performance[1 ,2],while electrode materials ,as one key factor to de-termine the performance of supercapacitor , nowbecome the focus of many researches . The super-capacitor materials can be categorized into threetypes :carbon electrode materials[3], metal oxide e-lectrode materials[4]and conductive polymer elec-trode materials[5].Conductive polymer electrode materials havehigher capacitance than tha…     

Influence of KOH activation techniques on pore structure and electrochemical property of carbon electrode materials

1 INTRODUCTIONSupercapacitor is a kind of newenergy storagedevice , which can fill the gap between the conven-tional capacitor and the battery[1 ,2]. Supercapa-ciors are nowutilizedin many fields ,such as spaceindustry ,national defense ,warindustry ,electricalvehicle , wireless communication, and consume e-lectronics .It is well known that the electrode ma-terial is the key factor to determine the perform-ance of supercapacitor . At present ,the activatedcarbonis the main marketed availa…     

Preparation of activated carbons from mesophase pitch and their electrochemical properties

The influences of molar ratio of KOH to C and activated temperature on the pore structure and electrochemical property of porous activated carbon from mesophase pitch activated by KOH were investigated. The surface areas and the pore structures of activated carbons were analyzed by nitrogen adsorption, and the electrochemical properties of the activated carbons were studied using two-electrode capacitors in organic electrolyte. The results indicate that the maximum surface area of 3 190 m2/g is obtained at molar ratio of KOH to C of 5:1, the maximum specific capacitance of 122 F/g is attained at molar ratio of KOH to C of 4:1, and 800 ℃ is the proper temperature to obtain the maximum surface area and capacitance.     

活性炭比表面积对双电层电容特性的影响

用KOH活化活性炭作为电极材料制作双电层电容器,用接触角测定其润湿性,用恒流充放电、循环伏安等方法研究活性炭的电化学性能。结果显示,炭膜浸润时间最短约为90min,双电层电容器的比电容随比表面积增加而增大。比表面积为1932m^2·g^-1的炭样在1mol·L^-1的H2SO4电解~（677mA·g^-1）中充放电最大比电容为167F·g^-1。     

Effect of acid oxidization of carbon nanotube electrode on the capacitances of double layer capacitors

~~Effect of acid oxidization of carbon nanotube electrode on the capacitances of double layer capacitors~~     

Comparison of capacitive behavior of activated carbons with different pore structures in aqueous and nonaqueous systems

The pore structures of two activated carbons from sawdust with KOH activation and coconut-shell with steam activation for supercapacitor were analyzed by N2 adsorption method. The electrochemical properties of both activated carbons in 6 mol/L KOH solution and 1 mol/L EtgNPF4/PC were compared, and the effect of pore structure on the capacitance was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, AC impedance and charge-discharge measurements. The results indicate that the capacitance mainly depends on effective surface area, but the power property mainly depends on mesoporosity. At low specific current （1 A/g）, the maximum specific Capacitances of 276.3 F/g in aqueous system and 123.9 F/g in nonaqueous system can be obtained from sawdust activated carbon with a larger surface area of 1 808 m^2/g, butat a high specific current, the specific capacitance of coconut-shell activated carbon with a higher mesoporosity of 75.1% is more excellent. Activated carbon by KOH activation is fitter for aqueous system and that by steam activation is fitter for nonaqueous system.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 3D flowerlike a-Ni(OH)_2 nanostructures for supercapacitor application

Three-dimensional flowerlike ?-Ni(OH)2 nanostructures were successfully synthesized by the microwave-assisted reflux as short as 30 min. The crystalline structure and morphology of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The ?-Ni(OH)2 nanostructure shows a large surface area of 173 m2 g?1 and narrow mesopore distribution. The electrochemical properties of the as-prepared ?-Ni(OH)2 as an electrode material for supercapacitor were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements in 6 mol/L KOH electrolyte. The ?-Ni(OH)2 nanostructure shows a maximum specific capacitance of 2030 F g?1 at a current density of 1 A g?1 and exhibits excellent rate capability. These results suggest that it is a promising electrode material for supercapacitor application.     

High-performance porous carbon for supercapacitors prepared by one-step pyrolysis of PF/gelatin blends

A high-performance porous carbon material for supercapacitor electrodes was prepared by using a polymer blend method. Phenol-formaldehyde resin and gelatin were used as carbon precursor polymer and pore former polymer, respectively. The blends were carbonized at 800 °C in nitrogen. SEM, BET measurement and BJH method reveal that the obtained carbon possesses a mesoporous characteristic, with the average pore size between 3.0 nm and 5.0 nm. The electrochemical properties of supercapacitor using these carbons as electrode material were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge-discharge. The results indicate that the composition of blended polymers has a strong effect on the specific capacitance. When the mass ratio of PF to gelatin is kept at 1:1, the largest surface area of 222 m²/g is obtained, and the specific capacitance reaches 161 F/g.     

Performance of a combined capacitor based on ultrafine nickel oxide／carbon nanotubes composite electrodes

A new sol-gel process for the preparation of ultrafine nickel hydroxide electrode materials was developed. The composite electrodes consisting of carbon nanotubes and Ni(OH)2 were developed by mixing the hydroxide and carbon nanotubes together in different mass ratios. In order to enhance energy density, a combined type pseudocapacitor/electric double layer capacitor was considered and its electrochemical properties were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and dc charge/discharge test. The combined capacitor shows excellent capacitor behavior with an operating voltage up to 1.6 V in KOH aqueous electrolyte. Stable charge/discharge behaviors were observed with much higher specific capacitance values of 24 F/g compared with that of EDLC (12 F/g) by introducing 60% Ni(OH)2 in the anode material. By using the modified anode of a Ni(OH)E/Carbon nanotubes composite electrode, the specific capacitance of the cell was less sensitive to discharge current density compared with that of the capacitor employing pure nickel hydroxide as anode. The combined capacitor in this study exhibits high energy density and stable power characteristics.     

Effect of Adding Microwave Absorber on Structures and Properties of Hypercoal-Based Activated Carbons

Using lignite-based hypercoal as raw material,KOH as activator and CuO as microwave absorber,we prepared hypercoal-based activated carbons by microwave-assisted activation.The pore structure and the electrochemical performance of the activated carbons were tested,and the effects of adding CuO in the activation reaction process were also investigated.The activated carbons prepared were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption,X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The specific surface area and mesoporous ratio of the hypercoal-based activated carbon are 1 257 m~2/g and 55.4%,respectively.When the activated carbons are used as the electrode materials,the specific capacitance reaches 309 F/g in 3 M KOH electrolyte.In comparison with those prepared without CuO absorber,the specific capacitance increases by 11.6%.It was proved that the addition of microwave absorber in microwave-assisted activation was a low-cost method for rapidly preparing activated carbon,and it could effectively promote the development of the pore structure and improve its electrochemical performance.     

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of activated carbons by chemical-physical activation

A process was proposed based on the combination of chemical and physical activation for the production of activated carbons used as the electrode material for electric double layer capacitor (EDLC). By material characterization and electrochemical methods, the influences of the activitation process on the specific surface area, pore structure and electrochemical properties of the activated carbons were investigated. The results show that specific surface area, the mesopore volume, and the specific capacitance increase with the increase of the mass ratio of KOH to char (m(KOH)/m(char)) and the activation time, respectively. When m(KOH)/m(char) is 4.0, the specific surface area and the mesopore volume reach the maximum values, i.e. 1 960 m²/g and 0.308 4 cm³/g, and the specific capacitance is 120.7 F/g synchronously. Compared with the chemical activation, the activated carbons prepared by chemical-physical activation show a larger mesopore volume, a higher ratio of mesopore and a larger specific capacitance. Foundation item: Project(2007BAE12B01) supported by the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China     

Structural and electrochemical performances of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> doped with tin for supercapacitors

To improve the electrochemical performances of α-MnO₂ as electrode materials for supercapacitors, Sn-doped α-MnO₂ in the presence of the doping amount of 1%-4% was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. As-prepared α-MnO₂ presents nanorod shape and no other impurities exist. By ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, it is convinced that the band gaps of α-MnO₂ decrease with increasing Sn-doping amount. Cyclic voltammetry investigation indicates that undoped and doped α-MnO₂ all have regular capacitive response. As the scan rate enlarged, the profiles of curves gradually deviate from rectangle. Compared with undoped α-MnO₂, doped α-MnO₂ has larger specific capacitance. The specific capacitance of 3% doped α-MnO₂ reaches 241.0 F/g while undoped α-MnO₂ only has 173.0 F/g under 50 mA/ g current density in galvanostatical charge-discharge measurement. Enhanced conductivity by Sn-doping is considered to account for doped sample’s enhanced electrochemical specific capacitance.     

载镍活性炭材料及复合型超级电容器

为提高碳基电化学电容器的比电容和和能量密度,采用化学沉积法将少量镍氧化物沉积在活性炭上,得到沉积镍氧化物的活性炭材料并以此材料做成复合电极用于混合型电化学电容器的正极.研究显示,沉积镍氧化物后,碳材料的比表面积略有减小,但孔径分布没有明显变化.复合电极作为混合型电容器的正极时,比电容达到194.01F/g,比纯活性炭正极的175F/g提高了10.84%;复合电极在6mol/L的电解液中析氧电势为0.296V,比纯活性炭电极的0.220V高出0.076V,因此,具有较高的能量密度.不同放电电流密度下的恒电流测试结果显示,沉积镍氧化物活性炭复合电极的比电容值没有明显变化,与纯活性炭电极一样表现出良好的功率特性.采用沉积镍氧化物活性炭作为正极材料的复合型电容器,在6mol/L的KOH水溶液作为电解液时,单体电容器的工作电压可以达到1.2V,高于纯活性炭制备的双层型电容器0.2V.充放电循环10000次时,复合型电容器的电容仅降低到初始电容的90%.上述结果表明,在活性炭上沉积少量镍氧化物颗粒可以提高碳基电化学电容器的比电容和能量密度.     

金属有机框架在超级电容器中的应用

成功制备了金属有机框架M3(BTC)2·12H2O(M=Ni和Co),并将其应用于超级电容器电极材料中,通过X线衍射(XRD)表征发现,这些化合物具有同类型的结构,在6 mol/L电解液中,采用循环伏安法和1 000次充放电循环测试其电化学性能.实验表明:Ni3 (BTC)2·12H2O电极材料在扫描速率5 mV/s下,比电容达到了430 F/g;在高扫描速率200 mV/s下,比电容为154 F/g;在扫描速率5 mV/s下1 000次充放电测试其循环寿命后发现,比电容保持率为86％.     

Supercapacitors based on high-surface-area graphene

Exfoliated graphite oxide was prepared by an improved Hummers method and was then reduced to graphene with hydrazine in the presence of ammonium hydroxide.N2adsorption–desorption measurement showed that graphene so obtained had a specific surface area as high as 818 m2/g.Galvanostatic charge/discharge curves demonstrated that the as-prepared graphene exhibited a specific capacitance of 186.9 F/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g and that about 96%of the specific capacitance was retained after 2000 cycles at a current density of 5 A/g.     

Electrochemical performance of interfacially polymerized polyaniline nanofibres as electrode materials for non-aqueous redox supercapacitors

H⁺ doped polyaniline nanofibre (PH) was synthesized by interfacial polymerization and polyanilines doped with Li salt (PLI and PHLI) were prepared by immersing emeraldine base (EB) and H⁺ doped polyaniline in 1 mol/L LiPF₆/(EC-EMC-DMC), respectively. PH, PLI and PHLI were all characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. With 1 mol/L LiPF₆/(EC-EMC-DMC) as electrolyte, PH, PHLI and PLI were used as the active materials of symmetric non-aqueous redox supercapacitors. PLI shows the highest initial specific capacitance of 120 F/g (47 F/g for PH and 66 F/g for PHLI) among three samples. After 500 cycles, the specific capacitance of PLI remains 75 F/g, indicating the good cycleability.     

Mechanism of current efficiency improvement of Zn-Fe alloy electroplating by hydrogen inhibitor

The effect of hydrogen inhibitor on partial current densities ofZn, Fe and differential capacitance of electrode/electrolyte interface, and adsorbing type of hydrogen inhibitor were studied by the methods of electrochemistry. The mechanism of current efficiency improvement were explained from the point of valence electron theory. The results indicate that the partial current density of Fe increases in addition of hydrogen inhibitor, which reaches the maximum of 0.14 A/dm^2 when current density is 0.2 A/din〈 Differential capacitance of electrode/electrolyte interface decreases obviously from 20.3μF/cm^2 to 7 μF/cm^2 rapidly with the concentration varying from 0 to 20 mL/L, because hydrogen inhibitor chemically adsorbs on active points of Fe electrode surface selectively. Element S in hydrogen inhibitor with negative electricity and strong capacity of offering electron shares isolated electrons with Fe. The adsorption of H atom is inhibited when adsorbing on active points of Fe electrode surface firstly, and then current efficiency of Zn-Fe alloy electroplating is improved accordingly.     

Solvothermal synthesis and electrochemical properties of octahedral cobalt oxide decorated with Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Octahedral CoO with nanostructures decorated with Ag nanoparticles was prepared via a facile solvothermal approach. After being annealed at 500 °C for 1 h, an electrochemical capacitor material of Co₃O₄ decorated with Ag₂O was obtained. The cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge were used to evaluate the electrochemical properties of the as-prepared products. The results indicated that the as-prepared samples exhibited fine pseudo-capacitive performance, and the surface modifications of Ag₂O can significantly increase the capacitance of the Co₃O₄ material. The specific capacitance of Ag₂O/Co₃O₄ composite electrode was up to 217.6 F·g^?1, which was 3.35 times as high as that of pure Co₃O₄. Moreover, Ag₂O/Co₃O₄ composite showed an excellent cycle performance, and 65.3% of specific capacitance was maintained after 200 cycles.