Macropore-assisted electrolyte transfer inside binder-free templated carbon xerogels as carbon electrode for electric double layer capacitors

Abstract

Capacitive performance of electric double layer capacitors is influenced by specific surface area, while pore structure also promotes electrolyte transfer inside a carbon electrode. Organic electrolytes require macropores, whereas aqueous electrolytes operate best using mesopores for electrolyte transfer. Templated carbon xerogels (TCXs) were prepared from resorcinol and formaldehyde with cotton fibers as a hard template containing macropores, mesopores and micropores as the carbon electrode. Results suggested that macropores (>50 nm) were contiguously created and connected with mesopore diameters (2–50 nm), leading to convenient ion transport inside the TCXs. Vacuum drying formed sponge-like carbon xerogels that permitted electrolyte transfer. Despite the insignificant change of porous properties, TCXs possessing sponge-like carbon xerogels showed increased capacitance values from 137 F/g to 317 F/g at 200 mA/g in a three-electrode system as a result of macropore-assisted electrolyte transfer in aqueous electrolytes.