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Electrochemical Characteristics of Discrete, Uniform, and Monodispersed Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Spheres in Double‐Layered Supercapacitors
Author(s) -
Chen Xuecheng,
Kierzek Krzysztof,
Wenelska Karolina,
Cendrowski Krzystof,
Gong Jiang,
Wen Xin,
Tang Tao,
Chu Paul K.,
Mijowska Ewa
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201300093
Subject(s) - supercapacitor , mesoporous material , materials science , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , capacitance , spheres , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , pulmonary surfactant , mesoporous silica , shell (structure) , porosity , composite material , electrode , chemistry , composite number , organic chemistry , catalysis , physics , astronomy , engineering
Core–shell‐structured mesoporous silica spheres were prepared by using n ‐octadecyltrimethoxysilane (C18TMS) as the surfactant. Hollow mesoporous carbon spheres with controllable diameters were fabricated from core–shell‐structured mesoporous silica sphere templates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). By controlling the thickness of the silica shell, hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) with different diameters can be obtained. The use of ethylene as the carbon precursor in the CVD process produces the materials in a single step without the need to remove the surfactant. The mechanism of formation and the role played by the surfactant, C18TMS, are investigated. The materials have large potential in double‐layer supercapacitors, and their electrochemical properties were determined. HCSs with thicker mesoporous shells possess a larger surface area, which in turn increases their electrochemical capacitance. The samples prepared at a lower temperature also exhibit increased capacitance as a result of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) area and larger pore size.