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The Influence of Conductive Additives and Inter‐Particle Voids in Carbon EDLC Electrodes
Author(s) -
Pandolfo A. G.,
Wilson G. J.,
Huynh T. D.,
Hollenkamp A. F.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201000027
Subject(s) - materials science , electrode , porosity , carbon fibers , electrolyte , capacitance , composite material , particle (ecology) , coating , electrochemistry , electrical conductor , particle size , chemical engineering , composite number , chemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
Through the interpretation of porosity and intrusion data, and correlation to the electrochemical response, this study has confirmed that are not only carbon blacks (CBs) very effective in improving the electrical connectivity of a carbon electrode coating, but they also significantly modify the porosity of the electrode coating and thereby also influence ionic diffusion. CBs are more effective conductive fillers than graphites in EDLC electrodes. The highly branched structure of CBs allows multiple electrical contact points and results in a lower electrode electronic resistance. CBs can decrease inter‐particle porosity (both volume and size) and introduce additional porosity that is characteristic of the type of carbon employed. It is observed that electrode coatings prepared from a carbon slurry have a highly macroporous structure and that electrolyte accessibility to individual activated carbon particles is unlikely to be the limiting factor to accessing capacitance. Electrochemical testing has confirmed the strong relationship between bulk electrode resistance and the accessibility of capacitance at different rates.