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A Comparison of the Electrochemical Behavior of Carbon Aerogels and Activated Carbon Fiber Cloths

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

T. D. Tran
Affiliation:
Chemistry & Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
C. T. Alviso
Affiliation:
Chemistry & Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
S. S. Hulsey
Affiliation:
Chemistry & Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
J. K. Nielsen
Affiliation:
Chemistry & Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
R. W. Pekala
Affiliation:
Chemistry & Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
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Abstract

The electrochemical capacitative behavior of carbon aerogels and selected commercial carbon fiber cloths was studied in 5M potassium hydroxide, 3M sulfuric acid, and 0.5M tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate/propylene carbonate electrolytes. The resorcinolformaldehyde based carbon aerogels with a range of density (0.2–0.85 g/cc) have open-cell structures with ultrafine pore sizes (∼5–50 nm), high surface area (400–700 m2/g), and a solid matrix composed of interconnected particles or fibers with characteristic diameters of 10 nm. The commercial fiber cloths in the density range 0.2–0.4g/cc have high surface areas (1000–2500 m2/g). The volumetric capacitances of high-density aerogels are shown to be comparable to or exceeding those obtained from activated carbon fibers. The electrochemical behavior of these types of materials in various electrolytes is compared and related to their physical properties.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1996

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