Hydrothermal functionalization of ordered mesoporous carbons: The effect of boron on supercapacitor performance

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

M. Enterría (Author) FEUP; M. F. R. Pereira (Author) FEUP; J. I. Martins (Author) FEUP; J. L. Figueiredo (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Carbon

Vol. 95

Pages: 72-83

ISSN: 0008-6223

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 51 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 76 Citations

INSPEC

Associated Projects

LSRE-LCM - Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reação - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-Q4B

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2015.08.009

Abstract (EN): Hierarchical carbons with different boron contents (from 0.42 to 2.37 wt.%) were prepared by combination of soft-templating and hydrothermal approaches. This newly developed strategy enables adequate control of the chemical state of the boron functionalities in carbon materials since the self-generated pressures favour B-C bond formation. The total content of oxygen increases simultaneously with the boron content, and its speciation is also influenced by the boron chemical state distribution: the presence of C-B-C (BC3 and BC2O) species induces the oxidation of phenols to carbonyls. The electrochemical performance of the prepared carbons was tested in a three-electrode cell configuration (1 M H2SO4) showing good specific capacitances per BET specific surface area (20-36 οF/cm2). The presence of boron on the carbon backbone improves both the charge propagation and the pseudocapacitive properties. Nevertheless, the electrochemical properties are only enhanced up to some level of boron doping (around 1.8 wt.%). A two-electrode supercapacitor built with a carbon prepared by a mild hydrothermal synthesis (50 °C during 28 h) delivered energy densities similar to those of commercial activated carbons. This could lead to high volumetric capacitance, since the boron doped carbons present much higher density.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12