Three-Dimensionally Ordered Mesoporous (3DOm) Carbon Materials as Electrodes for Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitors with Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

• DOI: 10.1021/cm400915p
• Publication Date: 2013-10-01T21:31:12Z
• Authors: Anh Vu; Xiaoyue Li; John Phillips; Aijie Han; William H. Smyrl; Philippe Bühlmann; Andreas Stein
• Keywords: Carbon fibers

Compared to rechargeable batteries, electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are normally considered be higher power but lower electrical energy density charge storage devices. To increase the density, one can enlarge interfacial area between electrodes and electrolyte through introduction of nanopores employ electrolytes that stable over wider voltage ranges, such as ionic liquids. However, due relatively high viscosity liquids large ion sizes, these measures result in diminished performance. Here, we describe synthesis carbon overcome limitations simultaneously provide specific energies powers EDLCs using liquid EMI-TFSI an electrolyte. A colloidal crystal templating method was optimized synthesize three-dimensionally ordered mesoporous (3DOm) carbons with well-defined geometry, interconnected pore structure tunable size range from 8 40 nm. achieve precise control sizes products, parameters were established for direct syntheses or seed growth monodisperse silica nanospheres l-lysine-assisted hydrolysis silicon alkoxide precursors. Porous then templated materials phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) The structures nanoporous products characterized detail, tested EDLCs. Optimal identified provided a interface electrode while maintaining good transport viscous 3DOm PF-carbons diameters 21–29 nm exhibited similar capacitance values (146–178 F g–1 at 0.5 g–1, respect mass single electrode) typical large-scale activated-carbon-based showed significantly better high-rate performance (80–123 25 g–1), more accessible space which diffusion less restricted.