Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors

The development of supercapacitors with high volumetric capacitance and high-rate performance has been an important research topic. Activated carbon (AC), which is a widely used material for supercapacitor electrodes, has different surface structures, porosities, and electrochemical properties. Howe...

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Autores principales:	Su-Jin Jang, Jeong Han Lee, Seo Hui Kang, Yun Chan Kang, Kwang Chul Roh
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	activated carbon supercapacitors conductive additive-free nitrogen-doped carbon coating Technology T
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/8808d1357cc14be1a419dce4cf5596f2
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:8808d1357cc14be1a419dce4cf5596f22021-11-25T17:27:25ZNitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors10.3390/en142276291996-1073https://doaj.org/article/8808d1357cc14be1a419dce4cf5596f22021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7629https://doaj.org/toc/1996-1073The development of supercapacitors with high volumetric capacitance and high-rate performance has been an important research topic. Activated carbon (AC), which is a widely used material for supercapacitor electrodes, has different surface structures, porosities, and electrochemical properties. However, the low conductivity of the electrode material is a major problem for the efficient use of AC in supercapacitors. To tackle this challenge, we prepared conductive, additive-free electrodes for supercapacitors by a simple one-pot treatment of AC with melamine (nitrogen source), pitch, and sucrose (both carbon source). Nitrogen-doped and carbon-coated AC was successfully generated after high-temperature heat treatment. The AC was doped with approximately 0.5 at.% nitrogen, and coated with carbon leading to a decreased oxygen content. Thin carbon layers (~10 nm) were coated onto the outer surface of the AC, as shown in TEM images. The modification of the AC surface with a sucrose source is favorable, as it increases the electrical conductivity of AC up to 3.0 S cm<sup>−1</sup>, which is 4.3 times higher than in unmodified AC. The electrochemical performance of the modified AC was evaluated by conducting agent-free electrode. Although the obtained samples had slightly reduced surface areas after the surface modification, they maintained a high specific surface area of 1700 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>. The supercapacitor delivered a specific capacitance of 70.4 F cc<sup>−1</sup> at 1 mA cm<sup>−1</sup> and achieved 89.8% capacitance retention even at a high current density of 50 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. Furthermore, the supercapacitor delivered a high energy density of 24.5 Wh kg<sup>−1</sup> at a power density of 4650 W kg<sup>−1</sup>. This approach can be extended for a new strategy for conductivity additive-free electrodes in, e.g., supercapacitors, batteries, and fuel cells.Su-Jin JangJeong Han LeeSeo Hui KangYun Chan KangKwang Chul RohMDPI AGarticleactivated carbonsupercapacitorsconductive additive-freenitrogen-dopedcarbon coatingTechnologyTENEnergies, Vol 14, Iss 7629, p 7629 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	activated carbon supercapacitors conductive additive-free nitrogen-doped carbon coating Technology T
spellingShingle	activated carbon supercapacitors conductive additive-free nitrogen-doped carbon coating Technology T Su-Jin Jang Jeong Han Lee Seo Hui Kang Yun Chan Kang Kwang Chul Roh Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors
description	The development of supercapacitors with high volumetric capacitance and high-rate performance has been an important research topic. Activated carbon (AC), which is a widely used material for supercapacitor electrodes, has different surface structures, porosities, and electrochemical properties. However, the low conductivity of the electrode material is a major problem for the efficient use of AC in supercapacitors. To tackle this challenge, we prepared conductive, additive-free electrodes for supercapacitors by a simple one-pot treatment of AC with melamine (nitrogen source), pitch, and sucrose (both carbon source). Nitrogen-doped and carbon-coated AC was successfully generated after high-temperature heat treatment. The AC was doped with approximately 0.5 at.% nitrogen, and coated with carbon leading to a decreased oxygen content. Thin carbon layers (~10 nm) were coated onto the outer surface of the AC, as shown in TEM images. The modification of the AC surface with a sucrose source is favorable, as it increases the electrical conductivity of AC up to 3.0 S cm<sup>−1</sup>, which is 4.3 times higher than in unmodified AC. The electrochemical performance of the modified AC was evaluated by conducting agent-free electrode. Although the obtained samples had slightly reduced surface areas after the surface modification, they maintained a high specific surface area of 1700 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>. The supercapacitor delivered a specific capacitance of 70.4 F cc<sup>−1</sup> at 1 mA cm<sup>−1</sup> and achieved 89.8% capacitance retention even at a high current density of 50 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. Furthermore, the supercapacitor delivered a high energy density of 24.5 Wh kg<sup>−1</sup> at a power density of 4650 W kg<sup>−1</sup>. This approach can be extended for a new strategy for conductivity additive-free electrodes in, e.g., supercapacitors, batteries, and fuel cells.
format	article
author	Su-Jin Jang Jeong Han Lee Seo Hui Kang Yun Chan Kang Kwang Chul Roh
author_facet	Su-Jin Jang Jeong Han Lee Seo Hui Kang Yun Chan Kang Kwang Chul Roh
author_sort	Su-Jin Jang
title	Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors
title_short	Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors
title_full	Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors
title_fullStr	Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors
title_full_unstemmed	Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors
title_sort	nitrogen-doped and carbon-coated activated carbon as a conductivity additive-free electrode for supercapacitors
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/8808d1357cc14be1a419dce4cf5596f2
work_keys_str_mv	AT sujinjang nitrogendopedandcarboncoatedactivatedcarbonasaconductivityadditivefreeelectrodeforsupercapacitors AT jeonghanlee nitrogendopedandcarboncoatedactivatedcarbonasaconductivityadditivefreeelectrodeforsupercapacitors AT seohuikang nitrogendopedandcarboncoatedactivatedcarbonasaconductivityadditivefreeelectrodeforsupercapacitors AT yunchankang nitrogendopedandcarboncoatedactivatedcarbonasaconductivityadditivefreeelectrodeforsupercapacitors AT kwangchulroh nitrogendopedandcarboncoatedactivatedcarbonasaconductivityadditivefreeelectrodeforsupercapacitors
_version_	1718412360492777472

Nitrogen-Doped and Carbon-Coated Activated Carbon as a Conductivity Additive-Free Electrode for Supercapacitors

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