Three-dimensional organization of pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole-based triazine framework using nanostructural spherical carbon: enhancing electrochemical performance of materials for supercapacitors

Abstract

Covalent triazine-based frameworks have attracted much interest recently due to their high surface area and excellent thermal and electrochemical stabilities. This study shows that covalently immobilizing triazine-based structures on spherical carbon nanostructures results in the organization of micro- and mesopores in a three-dimensional manner. We selected the nitrile-functionalized pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole unit to form triazine rings to construct a covalent organic framework. Combining spherical carbon nanostructures with the triazine framework produced a material with unique physicochemical properties, exhibiting the highest specific capacitance value of 638 F g−1 in aqueous acidic solutions. This phenomenon is attributed to many factors. The material exhibits a large surface area, a high content of micropores, a high content of graphitic N, and N-sites with basicity and semi-crystalline character. Thanks to the high structural organization and reproducibility, and remarkably high specific capacitance, these systems are promising materials for use in electrochemistry. For the first time, hybrid systems containing triazine-based frameworks and carbon nano-onions were used as electrodes for supercapacitors.