Despite the significant advances in solid polymer electrolytes used for supercapacitors, intractable problems including poor ionic conductivity and low electrochemical performance limit the practical applications. Herein, we report a facile approach to synthesize a NaCl-agarose gel electrolyte for use in flexible supercapacitors. The as-prepared agarose hydrogel consists of a three-dimensional chemically interconnected agarose backbone and oriented interparticular submicropores filled with water. The interconnected agarose matrix acts as a framework that provides mechanical stability to the gel electrolyte and hierarchical porous networks for optimized ion transport. The developed pores with the water filler provide an efficient ionic pathway to the storage sites of electrode. With these properties, the gel electrolyte enables the supercapacitor to have a high specific capacitance of 286.9 F g(-1) and a high rate capability that is 80% of specific capacitance obtained in the case of a liquid electrolyte at 100 mV s(-1). In addition, attributed to the simple procedure and its components, the gel electrolyte is highly scalable, cost-effective, safe, and nontoxic. Thus, the developed gel electrolyte has the potential for use in various energy storage and delivery systems.

We report on a one-step method for preparing nitrogen doped (N-doped) meso-/microporous hybrid carbon material (NCF) via the heat treatment of used cigarette filters under a nitrogen-containing atmosphere. The used cigarette filter, which is mostly composed of cellulose acetate fibers, can be transformed into a porous carbon material that contains both the mesopores and micropores spontaneously. The unique self-developed pore structure allowed a favorable pathway for electrolyte permeation and contact probability, resulting in the extended rate capability for the supercapacitor. The NCF exhibited a better rate capability and higher specific capacitance (153.8 F g(-1)) compared to that of conventional activated carbon (125.0 F g(-1)) at 1 A g(-1). These findings indicate that the synergistic combination of well-developed meso-/micropores, an enlarged surface area and pseudocapacitive behavior leads to the desired supercapacitive performance. The prepared carbon material is capable of reproducing its electrochemical performance during the 6000 cycles required for charge and discharge measurements.

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Here we propose facile and scalable synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) dendritic platinum nanoparticle at room temperature by exploiting an oil-in-water emulsion. The interfacial synthesis selectively provides platinum nanoparticle with 2D structure in high yield by controlling key reactants such as the amount of oleic acid and the concentration of block copolymer. Electrocatalytic activity of 2D dendritic platinum nanoparticle for oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation reaction is also examined.