Preparation of activated carbon from polyaniline by zinc chloride activation as supercapacitor electrodes

• Published in: Journal of solid state electrochemistry 2011-12, Vol.15 (11-12), p.2667-2674
• Main Authors: Xiang, Xiaoxia, Liu, Enhui, Huang, Zhengzheng, Shen, Haijie, Tian, Yingying, Xiao, Chengyi, Yang, Jingjing, Mao, Zhaohui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry
• ISSN: 1432-8488; 1433-0768
• DOI: 10.1007/s10008-010-1258-7

Activated carbon for supercapacitor electrode was prepared from polyaniline using chemical activation with ZnCl 2 . The morphology, surface chemical composition, and surface area of the as-prepared carbon materials were investigated by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurement, respectively. Electrochemical characteristics were evaluated by cyclic voltammograms, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests in 6.0 mol L −1 KOH aqueous solution. The electrochemical measurements showed that ZnCl 2 activation led to better capacitive performances. The activated carbon presented a high-specific gravimetric capacitance of 174 F g −1 , with rectangular cyclic voltammetry curves at a scan rate of 2 mV s −1 , and it remained 93% even at a high scan rate of 50 mV s −1 . These demonstrated that activated carbon would be a promising electrode material for supercapacitors.