Nomex-derived activated carbon fibers as electrode materials in carbon based supercapacitors

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.05.078

Journal of Power Sources

Volume 153, Issue 2, 28 February 2006, Pages 419-423

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.05.078 Get rights and content

Abstract

Electrochemical characterization has been carried out for electrodes prepared of several activated carbon fiber samples derived from poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide) (Nomex) in an aqueous solution. Depending on the burn-off due to activation the BET surface area of the carbons was in the order of 1300–2800 m² g⁻¹, providing an extensive network of micropores. Their capability as active material for supercapacitors was evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Values for the capacitance of 175 F g⁻¹ in sulfuric acid were obtained. Further on, it was observed that the specific capacitance and the performance of the electrode increase significantly with increasing burn-off degree. We believe that this fact can be attributed to the increase of surface area and porosity with increasing burn-off.

Introduction

In recent years, activated carbons have found big attraction as electrode material for the storage of energy in supercapacitors due to their very high surface area, simple processability and low costs [1], [2], [3]. Chemical and physical methods of carbon activation are well known and allow producing materials, which are defined in terms of surface area and pore size distribution [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. When fibrous precursors are used activated carbon fibers are obtained, which exhibit high adsorption/desorption rates and narrow pore size distribution. Using fibrous materials gives an additional profit from the construction point of view and thus offer a number of advantages over conventional powdered activated carbons [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16].

Our previous work has shown that physically activated carbon fibers derived from poly (m-phenylene isophtalamide) (Nomex, Fig. 1) have a very homogeneous (micro)-pore size distribution and can be prepared with very high pore volumes and/or ultrahigh surface areas up to 2600 m² g⁻¹ [17], [18]. This seems to be an excellent prerequisite for the use of such fibers in electrochemical supercapacitors [19]. In this work we will compare the electrochemical performance of different Nomex-based activated carbon fiber materials and evaluate whether an application for supercapacitors is promising.

Section snippets

Material

The starting material was commercially available Nomex aramid fiber in a variety known as Crystalline Nomex (T450 2.2 dtex.). Various series of activated carbon fibers were prepared from either fresh Nomex (N), or Nomex pre-impregnated with different amounts of H₃PO₄ (NP). The impregnation ratio (calculated as the weight gain after impregnation relative to the mass of Nomex) amounted to 1 and 7 wt.%, and the samples are named NP1 and NP7, respectively. The burn-off degrees of samples were

Results and discussion

The stability window of the electrolyte was found to be in the range of −600 to 300 mV versus Hg/Hg₂SO₄. Depending on the type of fibers we obtained values of the capacitance of about 90 up to 175 F g⁻¹, as determined by means of CV. As demonstrated in Fig. 3, N-42 fibers show the strongest scan rate dependency of capacitance indicating that the accessibility of the electrolyte to this carbon is not as good as in the phosphoric acid activated fibers. In contrast to N-42 the CVs of all other

Conclusion

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether nanoporous activated carbon fibers derived from poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide) are suitable for the use as active material in supercapacitors. Their capability as active material was evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the fibers are easily processable to mechanically very stable electrodes. NP1-90 (prepared by pre-impregnation of Nomex with H₃PO₄ followed by activation in CO₂ to 90% burn-off) was

Acknowledgement

Support by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) in the special research program “Electroactive Materials” is gratefully acknowledged.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Short communicationNomex-derived activated carbon fibers as electrode materials in carbon based supercapacitors

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Material

Results and discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

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J. Non-Cryst. Solids

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J. Non-Cryst. Solids

Short communication
Nomex-derived activated carbon fibers as electrode materials in carbon based supercapacitors