Electrochemical properties of carbon aerogels derived from resorcinol‐formaldehyde‐aniline for supercapacitors

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a facile method to synthesise nitrogen‐doped carbon aerogels to increase the capacity of supercapacitors.Design/methodology/approachNitrogen‐doped carbon aerogels are prepared as electrode materials through sol‐gel method, using resorcinol, formaldehyde and aniline as raw materials. A series of symmetric supercapacitors are assembled by putting Ni‐MH battery separator between two carbon aerogels electrodes. The electrochemical performances of carbon aerogels and supercapacitors are studied.FindingsThe results show that the optimal molar percentage of aniline in the total molar ratio of resorcinol and aniline is 15 per cent, the mass specific capacitance of which is supposed to be about three times that of RF carbon aerogels. This result could be attributed to the pseudocapacitive effect of nitrogen heteroatoms. Moreover, the nitrogen‐doped carbon aerogels are found to exhibit lower charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte/carbon aerogels interface and lower Warburg impedance.Practical implicationsThe supercapacitors can be used in the field of automobile and can solve the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollutions.Originality/valueFor the first time, nitrogen‐doped carbon aerogels are prepared through sol‐gel method, using resorcinol, formaldehyde and aniline as raw materials.