Successful functionalization of superporous zeolite templated carbon using aminobenzene acids and electrochemical methods

Abstract

A novel and selective electrochemical functionalization of a highly reactive superporous zeolite templated carbon (ZTC) with two different aminobenzene acids (2-aminobenzoic and 4-aminobenzoic acid) was achieved. The functionalization was done through potentiodynamic treatment in acid media under oxidative conditions, which were optimized to preserve the unique ZTC structure. Interestingly, it was possible to avoid the electrochemical oxidation of the highly reactive ZTC structure by controlling the potential limit of the potentiodynamic experiment in presence of aminobenzene acids. The electrochemical characterization demonstrated the formation of polymer chains along with covalently bonded functionalities to the ZTC surface. The functionalized ZTCs showed several redox processes, producing a capacitance increase in both basic and acid media. The rate performance showed that the capacitance increase is retained at scan rates as high as 100 mVs -1 , indicating that there is a fast charge transfer between the polymer chains formed inside the ZTC porosity or the new surface functionalities and the ZTC itself. The success of the proposed approach was also confirmed by using other characterization techniques, which confirmed the presence of different nitrogen groups in the ZTC surface. This promising method could be used to achieve highly selective functionalization of highly porous carbon materials.

Ultraporous nitrogen-doped zeolite-templated carbon for high power density aqueous-based supercapacitors

“…Nevertheless, the role of the different N functionalities still is not fully understood. Nitrogen-doped carbons can be synthesized following two different strategies: (i) by using a nitrogen-containing precursor as source or (ii) through post-treatments of a carbon material with nitrogen reagents [21,22]. However, these approaches usually require the use of high temperatures that would damage the fragile porous network of ZTCs.…”

Asymmetric capacitors using lignin-based hierarchical porous carbons

“…Aqueous-based electrolytes are the best suited in this sense, although their small stability potential window have traditionally hampered their use, since it reduces the energy density of the cell. Recently, it has been shown that the stability of the potential window of aqueous electrolytes can be expanded by modifying the surface chemistry of the porous carbon electrodes [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Another strategy for increasing the voltage of aqueous-based electrolytes is the use of asymmetric configuration in mass electrodes [9], being optimized from the balance of charge by using the maximum allowable potential window of each electrode [10].…”

Revival of Zeolite‐Templated Nanocarbon Materials: Recent Advances in Energy Storage and Conversion

“…[74] In this section, post-synthesis is also summarized including: i) chemical methods [143][144][145] such as oxidation, fluorination and ii) electrochemical methods. [146][147][148][149] Herein, synthetic methods of zeolite-templated nanocarbons are discussed from the aspects of: i) CVD, ii) in situ pyrolysis, iii) solvothermal synthesis, and iv) post-synthesis.…”