Chapter 14 - Novel designs of carbon electrodes for the technological improvement of electrochemical capacitors

Abstract

Electrochemical capacitors (supercapacitors) play a key role in the development of new technologies for energy storage applications. However, their energy density must be increased to enable their use in a wider range of applications. One of the main strategies focuses on the improvement of the performance of carbon electrodes. These materials display excellent properties such as well-developed porosity, adequate pore size distribution, and tunable surface chemistry. Nevertheless, their degradation under high voltage conditions is one of the main drawbacks of the production of devices with an enhanced response. Different approaches have been proposed for designing carbon materials with improved properties for electrochemical applications. In this review, we propose different methodologies for the synthesis of carbon materials with enhanced electrochemical properties from two different points of view: carbon morphology and surface chemistry. These methodologies and their effect on the electrochemical performance are thoroughly discussed from a fundamental point of view as well as a practical technological application.