Abstract
This study thoroughly investigated the effects of activation conditions on pore structure development using response surface methodology with a central composite design. The activated carbon sphere (ACS) derived from phenolic formaldehyde resins by carbonization and fluidized activation was examined and characterized. The pore size distribution of ACS samples was all in the microporous and mesoporous scales. ACS with an ultra-high specific surface area of 3142 m2 g−1 and total pore volume of 1.513 cm3 g−1 was successfully obtained at 900 °C for 4 h. Electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) electrodes derived from ACS with different activation conditions were examined by using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge to comprehend the influence of surface area, pore volumes, and the amount of binder on the electrochemical performance. The optimal EDLC electrode was obtained using ACS with the largest specific surface area and pore volume with 5 wt% of binder addition. The specific capacitance was 143.7 F g−1 in a 1 M H2SO4 solution. The cyclical stability of the carbon electrode was also examined under 5000 cycles, and the charge/discharge efficiency remained nearly 100 % without deterioration. This study provides insights into fabricating ultra-high surface area ACS and their potential application as supercapacitors.
Published Version
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