Pore Size‐Engineered Three‐Dimensional Ordered Mesoporous Carbons with Improved Electrochemical Performance for Supercapacitor and Lithium‐ion Battery Applications

Abstract

Three-dimensional ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) are desirable for high performing energy storage devices because they provide a continuous electron pathway to ensure good electrical contact and also facilitate electrolyte ion transport by reducing diffusion lengths during charge-discharge process. Here, we report the synthesis of three dimensional mesoporous carbon (CMK-8) using KIT-6 and sucrose as silica template and carbon source, respectively. Initially, KIT-6, synthesized at different hydrothermal temperature (100, 130 and 150°C) is used as silica template to prepare OMCs with different pore diameter. The resulting OMCs were extensively characterized by SAXS, FE SEM, HR-TEM, BET and Raman techniques. The SAXS pattern shows distinct reflections at low 2θ range corresponds to ordered mesoporous structure of cubic Ia3d space group. The OMC possesses a specific surface area of 1017 m 2 /g with a mean pore size of 4.1 nm and large pore volume of 1.14 cm 3 g À 1 . As electrode material for supercapacitor application, the resulting mesoporous carbon delivers a high capacitance of 252 F/g @ 0.5 A/g and shows good rate performance (75% retention in capacitance at high current rates) and outstanding cyclic stability (91% retention after 30,000 cycles). Further, as anode for Li-ion battery application, it also exhibits promising specific capacity (856 mAh/g) with good cyclic and rate capability. The excellent electrochemical properties of the mesoporous carbon material are attributed to its three dimensional porous structure and high surface area with interconnected mesopores that provides rapid ion and electron transport during electrochemical process.

Not So Far, Not So Close: A Configurational Study of a Carbon Nanotube Bundle for Better Dielectric Phenomena

“…An ordered meso structure with porosity 4.1 nm in size and 1.14 cm 3 /g specific pore volume possesses a capacitance, 252 F/g and leads to a better diffusion tunneling. 17 However, reducing pore size less than 2 nm of ball milled activated reduced graphene oxide at a reduced activation temperature, 550 C, increases specific surface are up to 3000 m 2 /g and so lead to a gravimetric capacitance at about 174 F/g as reported in a recent study. 18 Confinement of electrolytes inside pores, and albeit, the chemical structure of confining wall alter many dynamic properties including mass diffusion that plays a key role in enhancing capacitance.…”

“…Furthermore, a study 16 aiming to tune pore size of nitrogen‐doped graphene refers a suitable range of pore length, 4.4–11.2 nm, offering a capacitance 284 F/g. An ordered meso structure with porosity 4.1 nm in size and 1.14 cm 3 /g specific pore volume possesses a capacitance, 252 F/g and leads to a better diffusion tunneling 17 . However, reducing pore size less than 2 nm of ball milled activated reduced graphene oxide at a reduced activation temperature, 550°C, increases specific surface are up to 3000 m 2 /g and so lead to a gravimetric capacitance at about 174 F/g as reported in a recent study 18 .…”

Nanoarchitectonics of Nanoporous Carbon Materials in Supercapacitors Applications

“…As a result, the material gave a high gravimetric specific capacitance of 226.4 F g −1 at 1 mV s −1 in a two-electrode cell configuration in an aqueous electrolyte (1 M H 2 SO 4 ) followed by the exceptional cycle performance achieving 97% capacitance retention even after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g −1 demonstrating the promising potential of hierarchical 2D porous carbon sheets as electrode materials for advanced supercapacitors [134]. Similarly, Anandan and co-workers have recently reported the 3D ordered mesoporous carbons using KIT-6 and sucrose as template and carbon source, respectively [135]. The resulting carbon material possesses a specific area of 1017 m 2 g −1 with a mean pore size of 4.1 nm and pore volume of 1.14 cc g −1 and achieved 252 F g −1 specific capacitance at 0.5 A g −1 followed by good cyclic performance retaining 91% capacitance for very long charge−discharge cycles of 30 000.…”

“…The resulting carbon material possesses a specific area of 1017 m 2 g −1 with a mean pore size of 4.1 nm and pore volume of 1.14 cc g −1 and achieved 252 F g −1 specific capacitance at 0.5 A g −1 followed by good cyclic performance retaining 91% capacitance for very long charge−discharge cycles of 30 000. The excellent electrochemical energy storage performance is the results of the 3D porous structure, high surface area, and interconnected porous structure which favor the rapid electrolyte ion transfer during the electrochemical process [135].…”

Achieving High Voltage and Excellent Rate Capability Supercapacitor Electrodes Derived From Bio‐renewable and Sustainable Resource

“…The carbon‐carbon based supercapacitor (SC) electrodes have been extensively studied and demonstrated for various commercial applications . Although the supercapacitor has less energy density as compared with lithium ion batteries, the commercial supercapacitors with energy density of 8–10 Wh kg −1 have been accepted for various commercial applications such as regenerative braking, emergency door opening, and transportation sectors such as tramways, buses, hybrid cars, etc.…”