High-Power Supercapacitor Electrodes from Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorn/Nanotube Composite

Abstract

A novel composite is presented as a supercapacitor electrode with a high maximum power rating (990 kW/kg; 396 kW/l) exceeding power performances of other electrodes. The high-power capability of the electrode stemmed from its unique meso-macro pore structure engineered through the utilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (20 wt %) as scaffolding for single-walled carbon nanohorns (80 wt %). The novel composite electrode also exhibited durable operation (6.5% decline in capacitance over 100 000 cycles) as a result of its monolithic chemical composition and mechanical stability. The novel composite electrode was benchmarked against another high-power electrode made from single-walled carbon nanotubes (Bucky paper electrode). While the composite electrode had a lower surface area compared to the Bucky paper electrode (280 vs 470 m(2)/g from nitrogen adsorption), it had a higher meso-macro pore volume (2.6 vs 1.6 mL/g from mercury porosimetry) which enabled the composite electrode to retain more electrolyte, ensuring facile ion transport, hence achieving a higher maximum power rating (970 vs 400 kW/kg).

Increased response/recovery lifetimes and reinforcement of polyaniline nanofiber films using carbon nanotubes

“…We can assume that the increased value for the composite is due to the highly porous arrangement of the CNTs. CNT bucky papers have been reported to have surface areas up to 470 m 2 /g [52]. Tensile tests were carried out on the free-standing films, and their mechanical properties were found to be slightly improved by the presence of the PAni nanofibers ( Table 1).…”

Polyaniline integrated carbon nanohorn: A superior electrode materials for advanced energy storage

“…This carbon based conducting nanomaterials help to enhance the electron transfer rate during Faradaic charge transfer reactions in the composites and increase the value of specific capacitance [18]. Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) are dahlia flower like spherical superstructure of aggregated nano-sized graphitic tubes [19][20][21]. Due to the high surface area, considerable internal nanospace, excellent porosity and high electrical conductivity, they have been broadly used in the various filed of applications such as supercapacitors, hydrogen storage, fuel cells, drug delivery and biosensors, etc.…”

Transparent, flexible, and solid-state supercapacitors based on graphene electrodes

“…The ever-increasing portable electronics requires the optical transparency and mechanical flexibility in energy conversion and storage components. 1-4 As major energy storage devices, supercapacitors have been widely used in power electronics, [5][6][7] such as electric vehicles, digital communication instruments, and emergency doors on jet planes. In addition to power and energy densities, supercapacitors in portable electronics require optical transparency and mechanical flexibility.…”