Biobased Nano Porous Active Carbon Fibers for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-22-2016

Abstract

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) with different pore structure have been prepared from wood sawdust using the KOH activation method. A study was conducted to examine the influence of the activation parameters (temperature, alkali/carbon ratio, and time) on the morphology and structure of the as-prepared ACFs developed in the process of pore generation and evolution. Activation temperature was very essential for the formation of utramicropores (<0.6 nm), which greatly contributed to the electric double layer capacitance. The significance of metallic potassium vapor evolved when the temperature was above 800 °C, since the generation of 0.8- and 1.1 nm micropores cannot be ignored. When the the KOH/fiber ratio was increased and the activation time was prolonged, to some extent, the micropores were enlarged to small mesopores within 2-5 nm. The sample with the optimal condition exhibited the highest specific capacitance (225 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1). Its ability to retain capacitance corresponding to 10 A g-1 and 6 M KOH was 85.3%, demonstrating a good rate capability. With 10 000 charge-discharge cycles at 3 A g-1, the supercapacitor kept 94.2% capacity, showing outstanding electrochemical performance as promising electrode material.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

First Page

15205

Last Page

15215

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