Synthesis of microporous carbon nanotubes by templating method and their high electrochemical performance

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2012-09, Vol.78, p.147-153
• Main Authors: Kim, Ki-Seok, Park, Soo-Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capacitance; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Carbonization; Chemistry; Electrochemical performance; Electrochemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Polyaniline; Silica nanotubes; Silicon dioxide; Specific surface
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2012.05.116

This described the scheme of the nitrogen-doped microporous carbon nanotubes prepared with silica nanotube and polyaniline as carbon precursor. [Display omitted] ► Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are prepared with silica nanotube and polyaniline. ► N-doped carbon nanotube (N-CNTs) is obtained with carbonization and silica etching. ► Porous N-CNTs (AC-N-CNTs) is prepared with chemical activation using KOH. ► AC-N-CNTs show increased specific capacitance compared to N-CNTs. ► It is due to the combination effect by high specific surface area and nitrogen group. Nitrogen-containing microporous carbon nanotubes were prepared via the carbonization of polyaniline/silica nanotube composites in order to obtain a new type of carbon electrode material. As a carbon precursor, polyaniline was coated onto a silica nanotube and subsequent carbonization was performed at 850°C. After carbonization and silica etching, the nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) show a 1D hollow structure with a high specific surface area; then, the N-CNTs are chemically activated using a KOH solution. It was found that the specific surface area of the activated N-CNTs (AC-N-CNTs) significantly increased to 1958m2/g with chemical activation compared with N-CNTs (217m2/g). In addition, the specific capacitance (254.6F/g) of the AC-N-CNTs was higher than that of the N-CNTs (218.6F/g). This superior performance is attributed to the synergistic effect between the high specific surface area and nitrogen group of the AC-N-CNTs, indicating the combination effect of both the electric double layer capacitance and pseudocapacitive reaction.