Improvement in the Characteristics of Electric Double Layer Capacitor Using a Mixture of Arc Black and Carbon Nanoballoon

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterials with different structures were mixed for an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) electrode. We used two kinds of carbon nanomaterial: arc black (AcB) and a carbon nanoballoon (CNB). Arc black was synthesized by arc discharge. CNB was produced by heating the prepared AcB at 2400 °C. AcB mostly consists of an amorphous component and has a large specific surface area. On the other hand, CNB has a graphitic surface and a high conductivity. To utilize their characteristics, AcB and CNB were used as the main materials of the EDLC electrode in weight ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2. The obtained EDLC electrode was filled with 1 M H2SO4 as the electrolyte. As a result, by mixing AcB and CNB, both the power and energy densities became higher than those of AcB or CNB alone. The EDLC mixed in 1:1 weight ratio of AcB and CNB showed the highest performance, with a higher electric power density than activated carbon (AC).