Efficient Fabrication of Disordered Graphene with Improved Ion Accessibility, Ion Conductivity, and Density for High‐Performance Compact Capacitive Energy Storage

• Published in: Advanced science 2024-10, Vol.11 (38), p.e2405155-n/a
• Main Authors: Liu, Gangqiang, Li, Xiangming, Li, Congming, Zheng, Qinwen, Wang, Yingche, Xiao, Ronglin, Huang, Fei, Tian, Hongmiao, Wang, Chunhui, Chen, Xiaoliang, Shao, Jinyou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: compact supercapacitor; disordered graphene; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Energy storage; Fourier transforms; Graphene; high density; porous structure; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrum analysis
• ISSN: 2198-3844; 2198-3844
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405155

High‐performance compact capacitive energy storage is vital for many modern application fields, including grid power buffers, electric vehicles, and portable electronics. However, achieving exceptional volumetric performance in supercapacitors is still challenging and requires effective fabrication of electrode films with high ion‐accessible surface area and fast ion diffusion capability while simultaneously maintaining high density. Herein, a facile, efficient, and scalable method is developed for the fabrication of dense, porous, and disordered graphene through spark‐induced disorderly opening of graphene stacks combined with mechanical compression. The obtained disordered graphene achieves a high density of 1.18 g cm−3, sixfold enhanced ion conductivity compared to common laminar graphene, and an ultrahigh volumetric capacitance of 297 F cm−3 in ionic liquid electrolyte. The fabricated stack cells deliver a volumetric energy density of 94.2 Wh L−1 and a power density of 13.7 kW L−1, representing a critical breakthrough in capacitive energy storage. Moreover, the proposed disordered graphene electrodes are assembled into ionogel‐based all‐solid‐state pouch cells with high mechanical stability and multiple optional outputs, demonstrating great potential for flexible energy storage in practical applications. Spark‐induced fast expansion and reduction allows for the formation of porous graphene, which has disorderly connected graphene sheets, enabling high ion conductivity and high ion accessibility while achieving high density by mechanical compression. The disordered graphene‐based supercapacitor delivers an ultrahigh energy density of 94.2 Wh L‐1 and a power density of 13.7 kW L‐1, representing a milestone in capacitive energy storage.