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Energy Storage on Ultrahigh Surface Area Activated Carbon Fibers Derived from PMIA
Author(s) -
CastroMuñiz Alberto,
SuárezGarcía Fabián,
MartínezAlonso Amelia,
Tascón Juan M. D.,
Kyotani Takashi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201300295
Subject(s) - supercapacitor , carbonization , activated carbon , materials science , specific surface area , chemical engineering , adsorption , fiber , aqueous solution , electrolyte , electrochemistry , carbon fibers , capacitance , energy storage , porosity , activation energy , electrode , composite material , chemistry , scanning electron microscope , organic chemistry , composite number , catalysis , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
High‐performance carbon materials for energy storage applications have been obtained by using poly( m ‐phenylene isophthalamide), PMIA, as a precursor through the chemical activation of the carbonized aramid fiber by using KOH. The yield of the process of activation was remarkably high (25–40 wt %), resulting in activated carbon fibers (ACFs) with ultrahigh surface areas, over 3000 m 2 g −1 , and pore volumes exceeding 1.50 cm 3 g −1 , keeping intact the fibrous morphology. The porous structure and the surface chemical properties could easily be controlled through the conditions of activation. The PMIA‐derived ACFs were tested in two types of energy storage applications. At −196 °C and 1 bar, H 2 uptake values of approximately 3 wt % were obtained, which, in combination with the textural properties, rendered it a good candidate for H 2 adsorption at high pressure and temperature. The performance of the ACFs as electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors was also investigated. Specific capacitance values between 297 and 531 F g −1 at 50 mA g −1 were obtained in aqueous electrolyte (1 M H 2 SO 4 ), showing different behaviors depending on the surface chemical properties.