Improving the Specific Surface Area of Etched Aluminum Foil by Fabricating the Micro/Nano Structure

Author(s):  
Ning Peng ◽  
ren gui xu ◽  
pan wang

Abstract Aluminum foil with micro/nano structure has been prepared by electrochemical DC etching and a subsequent anodization treatment followed by removal of the alumina film. When the micron-sized tunnels were generated on the etched aluminum foil, the size and distribution of the nano-concave formed on the sidewall of the etched tunnels varied with the anodized time in H2SO4 and C4H6O6 electrolyte. The optimal value of the specific surface area for the aluminum foil with micro/nano structure is approximately four times larger than that of the only etched aluminum foil. It is indicated from the chronoamperometry and BET measurements that the specific capacitance of aluminum foil with micro/nano structure can be significantly improved by suitable anodization in H2SO4 electrolyte, in comparison with a comparatively small increasement in C4H6O6 electrolyte. This can be attributed to the fact that the tardy anodization process will consume a considerable amount of aluminum substrate, resulting in the aggravation of the merged tunnels.

Author(s):  
Yaqi Yang ◽  
Ziqiang Shao ◽  
Feijun Wang

Abstract Due to the low specific capacitance and small specific surface area of conventional carbon materials used as electrode materials for double-layer capacitors, the search for more ideal materials and ingenious preparation methods remains a major challenge. In this study, fractional porous carbon nanosheets were prepared by co-doping Fe and N with chitosan as nitrogen source. The advantage of this method is that the carbon nanosheets can have a large number of pore structures and produce a large specific surface area. The presence of Fe catalyzes the graphitization of carbon in the carbon layer during carbonization process, and further increases the specific surface area of the electrode material. This structure provides an efficient ion and electron transport pathway, which enables more active sites to participate in the REDOX reaction, thus significantly enhancing the electrochemical performance of SCs. The specific surface area of CS-800 is up to 1587 m2 g−1. When the current density is 0.5 A g−1, the specific capacitance of CS-800 reaches 308.84 F g−1, and remains 84.61 % of the initial value after 10,000 cycles. The Coulomb efficiency of CS-800 is almost 100 % after a long cycle, which indicates that CS-800 has more ideal double-layer capacitance and pseudo capacitance.


RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (21) ◽  
pp. 16575-16581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingbo Wu ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Yang Wang

Porous carbons were prepared from enteromorpha with ZnCl2 as active reagent. The prepared porous carbon with a specific surface area of 1651 m2 g−1 exhibited a specific capacitance of 206 F g−1 and capacity retention of 93% even after 5000 cycles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 5835-5845
Author(s):  
Ranjith Balu ◽  
Arivuoli Dakshanamoorthy

Supercapacitor with high specific capacity is desirable for various energy storage and high powerdensity applications. Though Graphene has been the preferred material for high current density, nanocomposites have been attempted to increase the specific capacitance. Hydrothermal synthesis of cadmium sulfide/graphene (CdS/G) nanocomposite with CdS nanoparticles anchored/decorated over the graphene sheets is reported. The structural studies reveal the hexagonal phase of the prepared materials. The specific surface area (BET) and porosity is found to increase upon nanocomposite formation. The electrochemical characteristics such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), GCD and EIS of the CdS/G nanocomposite have been investigated. The capacitance of CdS/G nanocomposite almost doubled to 248 Fg−1 indicating the enhanced performance of the nanocomposite system and in addition it also showed excellent cycling stability of 74.8 percent after 1000 cycles. The supercapacitor investigated retained the initial energy density after charge-discharge, at 0.5 A/g for 1000 cycles. The graphene nanosheets increased the specific surface area and interfacial electron transfer of the composite material. It enhances the specific capacitance and cyclic stability of the supercapacitor device.


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linjie Su ◽  
Bohong Li ◽  
Dongyu Zhao ◽  
Chuanli Qin ◽  
Zheng Jin

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to prepare a new modified activated carbon fibers (ACFs) of high specific capacitance used for electrode material of supercapacitor. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the specific capacitance of ACF was significantly increased by using the phenolic resin microspheres and melamine as modifiers to prepare modified PAN-based activated carbon fibers (MACFs) via electrospinning, pre-oxidation and carbonization. The symmetrical supercapacitor (using MACF as electrode) and hybrid supercapacitor (using MACF and activated carbon as electrodes) were tested in term of electrochemical properties by cyclic voltammetry, AC impedance and cycle stability test. Findings It was found that the specific capacitance value of the modified fibers were increased to 167 Fg-1 by adding modifiers (i.e. 20 wt.% microspheres and 15 wt.% melamine) compared to that of unmodified fibers (86.17 Fg-1). Specific capacitance of modified electrode material had little degradation over 10,000 cycles. This result can be attributed to that the modifiers embedded into the fibers changed the original morphology and enhanced the specific surface area of the fibers. Originality/value The modified ACFs in our study had high specific surface area and significantly high specific capacitance, which can be applied as efficient and environmental absorbent, and advanced electrode material of supercapacitor.


2011 ◽  
Vol 194-196 ◽  
pp. 2472-2479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao Lin Xing ◽  
Chuan Xiang Zhang ◽  
Lun Jian Chen ◽  
Guang Xu Huang

Activated carbons (ACs) were prepared from lignite by microwave (MW) and electrical furnace (EF) heating with KOH as activation agent. In order to compare pore structures and electrochemical performances of ACs prepared by both heating methods, the ACs were characterized by N2 adsorption at 77K, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrochemical performances of Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) with ACs as electrodes in 3mol/L KOH electrolyte were evaluated by constant current charge-discharge, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the pore structures of ACs prepared by MW and EF heating significantly enhance when the weight ratio of KOH to coal increases from 2 to 4. The BET specific surface area, total pore volume, the ratio of mesopore and average pore diameter of ACs prepared by MW heating (denoted as AC-MW4) reaches 2094m2/g, 1.193cm3/g, 53.6%, 2.28nm when the weight ratio of KOH to coal is 4, and ACs prepared by EF heating (denoted as AC-EF4) reaches 2580m2/g, 1.683cm3/g, 67.3%, 2.61nm. The ECs with AC-MW4 and AC-EF4 as electrodes present a high specific capacitance of 348F/g and 377F/g at a current density of 50mA/g, and still remain 325F/g and 350F/g after 500 cycles, respectively. Although the specific surface area, total pore volume and specific capacitance of ACs prepared by MW heating are slightly lower than EF heating, taking into account the heating time in the activation process, ACs prepared by EF heating needs approximate 140min, while MW heating only needs 10min, which have demonstrated that microwave heating technology is a promising and efficient technique to prepare ACs.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1982
Author(s):  
Qinghua Yuan ◽  
Zhuwen Ma ◽  
Junbiao Chen ◽  
Zhenrui Huang ◽  
Zeming Fang ◽  
...  

The recycling of macromolecular biowastes has been a problem for the agriculture industry. In this study, a novel N, S-codoped activated carbon material with an ultrahigh specific area was produced for the application of a supercapacitor electrode, using tobacco stalk biowastes as the carbon source, KOH as the activating agents and thiourea as the doping agent. Tobacco stalk is mainly composed of cellulose, but also contains many small molecules and inorganic salts. KOH activation resulted in many mesopores, giving the tobacco stem-activated carbon a large specific surface area and double-layer capacitance. The specific surface area of the samples reached up to 3733 m2·g−1, while the maximum specific capacitance of the samples obtained was up to 281.3 F·g−1 in the 3-electrode tests (1 A·g−1). The doping of N and S elements raised the specific capacitance significantly, which could be increased to a value as high as 422.5 F·g−1 at a current density of 1 A·g−1 in the 3-electrode tests, but N, S-codoping also led to instability. The results of this article prove that tobacco stalks could be efficiently reused in the field of supercapacitors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liangcai Wang ◽  
Xin Feng ◽  
Huanhuan Ma ◽  
Jielong Wu ◽  
Yu Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract This work provides an idea for efficient and harmless utilization of lignin and further evaluated the textural properties of lignin-derived activated carbon/specific capacitance relationship. The yield of cellulose-doped apricot shell lignin (ASLC) was 30.42%. H3PO4/KOH was used to assist the preparation of ASLC-derived activated carbon (AAC) for capacitors. The specific surface areas of the as-obtained AAC-P-3 and AAC-K-2 were 1475.16 m2/g and 2136.56 m2/g, respectively. The specific capacitances of AAC-P-3 and AAC-K-2 were 169.14 F/g and 236.00 F/g, respectively, upon the current density of 0.50 A/g. In capacitors containing aqueous KOH as the electrolyte, the AR2 (0.983) between specific surface area and specific capacitance was highest, followed by the AR2 (0.978) between Vmicro/Vmeso and specific capacitance, the AR2 (0.975) between pore-wall thickness and specific capacitance. Consequently, the specific capacitances of the AACs depend not only the specific surface area, but also on the Vmicro/Vmeso, pore-wall thickness, and Vmicro.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-448
Author(s):  
Lei Guo ◽  
Lien Zhu ◽  
Lei Ma ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
QiuYu Meng ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to prepare a spherical modifier-modified activated carbon fiber of high specific capacitance intended for electrode materials of supercapacitor. Design/methodology/approach In this study, phenolic-based microspheres are taken as modifiers to prepare PAN-based fiber composites by electrospinning, pre-oxidation and carbonization. Pearl-chain structures appear in RFC/ACF composites, and pure polyacrylonitrile fibers show a dense network. The shape and cross-linking degree are large. After the addition of the phenolic-based microspheres, the composite material exhibits a layered pearlite chain structure with a large porosity, and the RFC/ACF composite material is derived because of the existence of a large number of bead chain structures in the composite material. The density increases, the volume declines and the mass after being assembled into a supercapacitor as a positive electrode material decreases. The specific surface area of RFC/ACF composites is increased as compared to pure fibers. The increase in specific surface area could facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte ions in the material. Owing to the large number of bead chains, plenty of pore channels are provided for the diffusion of electrolyte ions, which is conducive to enhancing the electrochemical performance of the composite and improving the RFC/ACF composite and the specific capacitance of the material. The methods of electrochemical testing on symmetric supercapacitors (as positive electrodes) are three-electrode cyclic voltammetry, alternating current impedance and cycle stability. Findings The specific capacitance value of the composite material was found to be 389.2 F/g, and the specific capacitance of the electrode operating at a higher current density of 20 mA/cm2 was 11.87 F/g (the amount of the microsphere modifier added was 0.3 g). Using this material as a positive electrode to assemble into asymmetrical supercapacitor, after 2,000 cycles, the specific capacitance retention rate was 87.46 per cent, indicating excellent cycle stability performance. This result can be attributed to the fact that the modifier embedded in the fiber changes the porosity between the fibers, while improving the utilization of the carbon fibers and making it easier for electrolyte ions to enter the interior of the composites, thereby increasing the capacitance of the composites. Originality/value The modified PAN-based activated carbon fibers in the study had high specific surface area and significantly high specific capacitance, which makes it applicable as an efficient and environment-friendly absorbent, as well as an advanced electrode material for supercapacitor.


NANO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (08) ◽  
pp. 1650089 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Y. Dong ◽  
N. Zhang ◽  
S. Y. Lin ◽  
T. T. Chen ◽  
M. Y. Zhang ◽  
...  

The ZnCo2O4 nanorods and nanosheets were grown on nickel foam by a facile and effective hydrothermal method, respectively. The effect of the morphologies of the nanostructures on electrochemical performance was investigated. Importantly, ZnCo2O4 nanorod electrodes with a high specific surface area exhibited a higher specific capacitance of 2457.4 F g[Formula: see text] at 2 A g[Formula: see text] and remarkable cycling stability with capacitance retention of 97.7% after 1000 cycles, which are superior to those of ZnCo2O4 nanosheet electrodes. Such a result is well explained. The investigation on the electrochemical properties of these two nanostructures as electrodes confirmed that the morphology of active materials has an important impact on electrochemical properties.


2011 ◽  
Vol 239-242 ◽  
pp. 1010-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Hong Sun ◽  
Jia Chang Zhao ◽  
Hong Hua Zhou ◽  
Bo He Jin Tang ◽  
Yu Qing Gu ◽  
...  

Composite electrode materials for supercapacitor were prepared by a combination of incipient wetness impregnation and hydrothermal method in this study. The materials were characterized by XRD, specific surface area and electrochemical testing. The effect of support on the electrochemical performance of the composite electrode materials was investigated. The result shows that the samples prepared by different supports contain nickel nitrate hydroxide hydrate (the electroactive material in the composite) and undecomposed nickel nitrate.The specific surface area decrease after the loading of nickel compounds, which indicates the exisitance of nickel compounds in the pores. The composite prepared by using diatomite support exhibits higher specific capacitance than those prepared by using SBA-15 and Ti-Si molecular sieve, which delivers the specific capacitance of 1162.77 F/g at the scan rate of 5 mV/s.


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