Metal–organic framework (MOF) as a template for syntheses of nanoporous carbons as electrode materials for supercapacitor

• Published in: Carbon (New York) 2010-02, Vol.48 (2), p.456-463
• Main Authors: Liu, Bo, Shioyama, Hiroshi, Jiang, Hailong, Zhang, Xinbo, Xu, Qiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Physics; Porous materials; Specific materials
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2009.09.061

Five nanoporous carbons (NPCs) were prepared by polymerizing and then carbonizing carbon precursor of furfuryl alcohol accommodated in a porous metal–organic framework (MOF-5, [Zn 4O(bdc) 3], bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) template. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas for five NPC samples obtained by carbonizing at the temperatures from 530 to 1000 °C fall into the range from 1140 to 3040 m 2 g −1 and the dependence of BET surface areas on carbonization temperatures shows a “ V” shape. All the five NPC samples have a pore size distribution centered at about 3.9 nm. As electrode materials for supercapacitor, the NPC samples obtained at the temperatures higher than 600 °C display the ideal capacitor behaviors and give rise to almost constant specific capacitance (above 100 F g −1 at 5 mV s −1) at various sweep rates, which is associated with their mesoporous characteristics. However, the NPC sample with the highest BET surface area (3040 m 2 g −1) obtained by carbonizing at 530 °C gives a unusually low capacitance (12 F g −1 at 5 mV s −1), which may be attributed to the poor conductivity of the carbon material due to the low carbonization temperature.