Nitrogen-doped carbons derived from cotton pulp for improved supercapacitors. Issue 45 (13th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Jian; Yu, Jiangbin; Luo, Hao; Liu, Xiang; Zhou, Qiongzhi; Wei, Tianxiang; Yu, Xinyi; Wu, Yahui; Yu, Yifei; Li, Mingjie
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 12:Issue 45(2022)
• Page Start: 29246
• Page End: 29252
• Publication Date: 2022-10-13
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ra02850f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Supercapacitors have a rapid charge/discharge rate, long lifespan, high stability, and relatively acceptable cost, showing great potential in energy storage and conversion applications. Abstract : Supercapacitors have a rapid charge/discharge rate, long lifespan, high stability, and relatively acceptable cost, showing great potential in energy storage and conversion applications. However, the current cost-effective carbon-based electrodes have limited application owing to their low specific capacitance and unsatisfactory stability. In this regard, we herein prepare nitrogen-doped carbons by carbonizing a mixture of cotton pulp (CCP) and melamine to improve the specific capacitance by integrating pore (mesopore) and surface (oxygen-containing groups) modification with defect engineering via the carbonization process. Furthermore, the structural and morphological features of the resultant nitrogen-doped carbons are confirmed by various characterization techniques. Excitingly, the specific capacitance for nitrogen-doped CCP (CCPN1) with a 1 : 1 weight ratio of CCP and melamine is 642 F g −1 at a current density of 0.5 A g −1 in a three-electrode system, surpassing that of the reported carbon analogues and most metal-based materials to date. The stability test suggests that the specific capacitance of CCPN1 is maintained over 150 F g −1 at a current density of 2 A g −1 even over 5000 cycles. Therefore, the reported nitrogen-doped carbons from cotton pulp exhibit improved specific capacitance and stability, providing a new cost-effective carbon-based material for application in the energy storage field.