Azide-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of N-doped mesoporous carbon cloth for high-performance symmetric supercapacitor employing LiClO4 as electrolyte. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Qian; Wang, Ni; Zhao, Peng; Yao, Mengqi; Hu, Wencheng
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 98(2017)
• Page Start: 58
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: N-doped -- Porous -- Conductivity -- Sodium azide; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2017.03.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: In our investigation, N-doped porous carbon cloth (NPCC) was synthesized through KOH activation and sodium azide-assisted hydrothermal method to improve its surface area and conductivity, respectively. The morphology and structure of the obtained NPCC were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were then performed to test electrochemical performance of the NPCC. The surface area of the NPCC was approximately 52 m 2 g −1, which was 6.5 times higher than that of carbon cloth (CC, 8 m 2 g −1 ), and the average pore size of NPCC was 5.0 nm. XPS demonstrated that elemental N (pyrrolic N and quaternary N) was successfully doped into the CC structure with a total N content of 3.49%. Electrochemical assessment was conducted in a symmetrical system in 1 M LiClO4 /acetonitrile electrolyte. The charge transfer resistance was significantly decreased from 97 Ω to 60 Ω after N-doping treatment. The NPCC device delivered a high areal capacitance of 130 mF cm −2 at a current density of 1 mA cm −2, and the highest volumetric energy density of 2.03 mW h cm −3 (16.25 W h kg −1 ) was achieved at a volumetric power density of 0.375 W cm −3 (3 kW kg −1 ). Additionally, the device could retain 95.8% of its initial capacitance even after 30, 000 cycles.