Introducing
redox-active species in the electrolyte component is
an effective approach to improving the energy density of carbon supercapacitors
via additional pseudocapacitive redox activities at the electrode–electrolyte
interfaces. Herein, we report a quasisolid-state supercapacitor fabricated
with symmetrical activated carbon electrodes and an ionic liquid (IL,
1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, BMPTFSI)-incorporated
nonaqueous, redox-active gel polymer electrolyte (R-GPE) added with
a redox-additive IL (BMPBr), entrapped in a polymer matrix of poly(vinylidene
fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene). The R-GPE film
with an optimum composition of an additive (BMPBr) showing a high
mechanical stability (tensile strength ∼0.32 MPa and elongation
at break ∼154%), a wide thermal stability range (up to ∼385
°C), and excellent electrochemical properties (an ionic conductivity
of ∼1.2 × 10–3 S cm–1 at room temperature and an electrochemical stability window of ∼6.5
V) is found as an excellent substitute of liquid electrolytes in supercapacitors.
The quasisolid-state supercapacitor is fabricated from biomass (pollen-cone)-derived
activated carbon electrodes separated by the R-GPE film and characterized
via electrochemical techniques, namely, electrochemical impedance
spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge–discharge
tests. The Br–-related redox activities at the interfaces
lead to a significant improvement in specific capacitance (from ∼164
to ∼248 F g–1), specific energy (from ∼65
to ∼105 W h kg–1), and maximum power (from
∼15 to 31 kW kg–1). With a moderate rate
capability, the supercapacitor demonstrates a good cycling performance
with an initial ∼23% fading in the specific capacitance and
a ∼100% Coulombic efficiency for ∼10 000 charge–discharge
cycles.
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