A high-performance supercapacitor based on activated carbon fibers with an optimized pore structure and oxygen-containing functional groups. (14th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Kai; Wang, Yu; Tang, Joel A.; Guo, Shaohua; Gao, Zhongmin; Wei, Yingjin; Chen, Gang; Gao, Yu
• Is Part Of: Materials chemistry frontiers. Volume 1:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 958
• Page End: 966
• Publication Date: 2016-12-14
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c6qm00196c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-1529

Abstract

Abstract : Activated carbon fibers with optimized pore structures and oxygen-containing functional groups display a remarkable capacitance and an excellent cycling performance. Abstract : Low-cost activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared from polyacrylonitrile-based precursor fibers abandoned by local factories via carbonization and CO2 activation. Oxygen-containing functional groups were introduced on the ACF surface via nitric acid and thermal treatment. ACFs with optimized pore structures and oxygen-containing functional groups display a remarkable capacitance of 214 F g −1 at a current density of 0.5 mA cm −2 and present an excellent cycling performance with a capacity retention of almost 100% over 3000 cycles. Moreover, the rate capability gains a significant improvement due to the existence of functional groups. The superb electrochemical performance of these materials provides a template of how to better engineer the ACFs' pore architecture and surface modifications to design enhanced electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors.