Abstract
Binderless carbon nanotubes aerogel (CNAG) composites represent a new class of high-performing electrodes for energy storage applications such as electrochemical double layer capacitors. The composites developed here differ significantly from these previously prepared with dispersion processes. The CNAG material was prepared by a molding procedure that is the synthesis by a chemical vapor deposition method to grow carbon nanotubes directly onto a microfibrous carbon paper substrate. Then the carbon aerogel is synthesized on the carbon nanotubes. The key feature of the method is eliminating the need of controlling the carbon nanotube concentration, which permits optimized dispersion processes to reinforce the aerogel's networks. The CNAG electrode delivered very high specific capacitances of 524 F g−1 in KOH electrolyte and 280 F g−1 in H2SO4 electrolyte. Furthermore, this better integration of carbon nanotubes in the matrix of carbon aerogel improved its resistance to the attack by the electrolyte and conferred an excellent cycle life over 5,000 cycles of charge–discharge in both electrolytes.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Fonds Québécois pour la Recherche en Nature et Technologie (FQRNT), NanoQuébec, and the Centre Québécois pour les Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF).
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Bordjiba, T., Mohamedi, M. Molding versus dispersion: effect of the preparation procedure on the capacitive and cycle life of carbon nanotubes aerogel composites. J Solid State Electrochem 15, 765–771 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-010-1155-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-010-1155-0