Phenol-formaldehyde-resin-based activated carbons with controlled pore size distribution for high-performance supercapacitors

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2020-01, Vol.379, p.122332, Article 122332
• Main Authors: Talreja, Neetu, Jung, SungHoon, Yen, Le Thi Hai, Kim, TaeYoung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon microparticles; Controlled pore size; Energy storage; Mesoporosity; Metal template; Supercapacitor
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.122332

[Display omitted] •Porous carbons with a controlled porosity and large pore volume were developed.•Control over porosity was enabled by combined metal templating and activation.•The resulting carbons were used as electrodes for supercapacitors.•The supercapacitors showed both high energy density and power density. Carbon-based materials with a controlled pore size distribution are highly desirable to achieve fast diffusion of electrolytes and enhance supercapacitor performance. Here, we report a method to effectively control porosity of the phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin-based carbons along with pore volume and pore size distribution using a combined metal templating and physical/chemical activation approach. The combined metal templating and physical/chemical activation approach allows the precise control of the pore size of the carbons. PF resin synthesized by suspension polymerization was used as a carbon source and metal ions (Fe+ and Zn+) were used as templating agents. The pore size could be superbly tuned in the 2–50 nm range by varying the metal ion. Carbonization and CO2 activation of the metal-embedded PF resins yielded carbon microparticles (M-CMP), which turned into carbon microparticles (M-CMP-S) having mesopores in the range of 35–51 nm by sonication and KOH activation. The specific capacitances of Fe-CMP-S and Zn-CMP-S were as high as 132 and 152 F g−1 (58 and 74 F cm−3) in ionic liquid electrolyte with energy densities of 56 and 64 Wh kg−1, respectively. In organic electrolyte, the Zn-CMP-S showed the specific capacitance of 136 F g−1 with a maximum power density of 709 kW kg−1. Adjustable pore size of the M-CMP-S facilitated the diffusion of electrolyte ions into the electrode, thereby achieving supercapacitor with high energy and power density.