Nano-sized Ni-doped carbon aerogel for supercapacitor

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2011 Jul;11(7):6528-32. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2011.4371.

Abstract

Carbon aerogel was prepared by polycondensation of resorcinol with formaldehyde using sodium carbonate as a catalyst in ambient conditions. Nano-sized Ni-doped carbon aerogel was then prepared by a precipitation method in an ethanol solvent. In order to elucidate the effect of nickel content on electrochemical properties, Ni-doped carbon aerogels (21, 35, 60, and 82 wt%) were prepared and their performance for supercapacitor electrode was investigated. Electrochemical properties of Ni-doped carbon aerogel electrodes were measured by cyclic voltammetry at a scan rate of 10 mV/sec and charge/discharge test at constant current of 1 A/g in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Among the samples prepared, 35 wt% Ni-doped carbon aerogel (Ni/CA-35) showed the highest capacitance (110 F/g) and excellent charge/discharge behavior. The enhanced capacitance of Ni-doped carbon aerogel was attributed to the faradaic redox reactions of nano-sized nickel oxide. Moreover, Ni-doped carbon aerogel exhibited quite stable cyclability, indicating long-term electrochemical stability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Electric Capacitance
  • Gels / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nickel / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Porosity
  • Resorcinols / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Gels
  • Resorcinols
  • Carbon
  • Nickel
  • resorcinol