Synthesis of Benzoxazine-Based N-Doped Mesoporous Carbons as High-Performance Electrode Materials

Abstract

In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon materials (NCMs) were prepared using aniline-phenol benzoxazine (BOZ) or aniline-cardanol benzoxazine as the carbon precursor and SBA-15 as the hard template. The effects of the carbonization temperature (700, 800, and 900 °C) and different nitrogen contents on the electrochemical properties of carbon materials were investigated. The samples synthesized using aniline-phenol benzoxazine as precursors and treated at 900 °C (NCM-900) exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance was 460 F/g at a current density of 0.25 A/g and the cycle stability was excellent (96.1% retention rate of the initial capacitance after 2000 cycles) in a 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte with a three-electrode system. Furthermore, NCM-900 also exhibited a high specific capacitance, comparable energy/power densities, and excellent cycling stability using a symmetrical electrode system. The characterization of the morphology and structure of the materials suggests it possessed an ordered mesoporous structure and a large specific surface area. NCM-900 could thus be considered a promising electrode material for supercapacitors.

Advanced Carbon Materials Derived from Polybenzoxazines: A Review

“…Similarly, Zhang et al observed similar properties in nitrogen doped benzoxazines (prepared as shown in Figure 9), finding that the sample with a lower nitrogen content had both a larger specific surface area and larger pore volumes than others [57]. Pores with higher surface areas have an increased ability to accumulate charges and transport ions, thus porosity measurements are crucial to understanding the electrochemical properties of benzoxazines [56,57]. Aside from porosity in general, mesopores can create ion transport channels within the carbon material (and grant ions entry to the electrode), thus highly mesoporous benzoxazines are highly suitable as electrodes [56].…”

“…Gao et al examined the electrochemical properties of carbon aerogels derived from nitrogen and sulfur co-doped polybenzoxazines and observed that the introduction of sulfur was key in preventing pore shrinkage, in addition to producing electrically active sites through redox reactions with the nitrogen and sulfur created pseudocapacitance (which was also observed in the nitrogen-only-doped benzoxazine) as a result of the enhanced porosity [56]. Similarly, Zhang et al observed similar properties in nitrogen doped benzoxazines (prepared as shown in Figure 9), finding that the sample with a lower nitrogen content had both a larger specific surface area and larger pore volumes than others [57]. Pores with higher surface areas have an increased ability to accumulate charges and transport ions, thus porosity measurements are crucial to understanding the electrochemical properties of benzoxazines [56,57].…”

“…CV curves of this sample, as well as a nitrogen-only-doped sample, also highlight the pseudocapacitance of the benzoxazine, which is thought to originate from redox reactions with the heteroatoms [56]. The large area of the CV curve seen in Figure 10 indicates both good performance at various different scan rates, and the ability to reversibly absorb-desorb free ions [57].…”

“…These electrochemical properties are confirmed with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) testing. The shape of CV curves for a nitrogenand sulfur-doped benzoxazine sample seen in Figure 10a indicates a high capacitance and ability to be charged and discharged rapidly, which gives these benzoxazines ideal double-layer capacitor (EDLC) behavior [56,57]. CV curves of this sample, as well as a nitrogen-only-doped sample, also highlight the pseudocapacitance of the benzoxazine, which is thought to originate from redox reactions with the heteroatoms [56].…”

“…measurements are crucial to understanding the electrochemical properties of be [56,57]. Aside from porosity in general, mesopores can create ion transport chan the carbon material (and grant ions entry to the electrode), thus highly mesoporou zines are highly suitable as electrodes [56].…”