Hierarchical Microcellular Microporous Carbon from Polyamic Acid Cryogel and its Electrochemical Capacitance

Yong Mun Choi, Kiran Pal Singh, Jong Deok Park, Nam Ho You, Cheol Min Yang, Munju Goh, Jong Sung Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The obtainment of a high specific surface area (SSA) without disrupting the conductivity of carbon is very challenging. Herein, an as-synthesized polyamic acid (PAA) derivative dissolved in 1,4-dioxane solvent was freeze dried to prepare a PAA cryogel, which allowed homogenous shrinkage of the texture and a high carbon yield upon carbonization. This work presents the successful template-free preparation of a high-surface area microporous carbon with a unique microcellular structure by simple carbonization treatment of a PAA cryogel. Upon increasing the carbonization temperature, the N content decreased, which was unfavorable for capacitance, but simultaneously, both the surface area and the crystallinity increased, which was beneficial in increasing the capacitance; these results are indicative of an interesting trade-off relationship between surface area, conductivity, and the N content of the carbon. In particular, C-PAA(1000) prepared by carbonization at 1000°C from the PAA cryogel showed a high porosity of approximately 90.8% and a remarkably high SSA of 2038 m2g-1 along with high crystallinity and effective N doping favorable for good conductivity; this material thus illustrates a high specific capacitance of 248 Fg-1 at 0.5 Ag-1 and excellent stability in inorganic electrolyte.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)278-287
Number of pages10
JournalEnergy Technology
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Keywords

  • Carbon
  • Cryogels
  • Hierarchical structures
  • Microporous materials
  • Supercapacitance

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