Amorphous carbon nanosheets suitable for deep eutectic solvent electrolyte toward cryogenic energy storage
Yi Zhang1, Guoli Zhang1, Juncheng Wu1
1Institute Energy Innovation, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, 79 West Yingze Street, Taiyuan 030024, PR China; CAS Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, PR China.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|August 2, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed porous carbon nanosheets (PCNs) from coal tar pitch for deep eutectic solvent (DES) electrolytes. These materials enable electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) to operate effectively at ultra-low temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Deep eutectic solvent (DES) electrolytes offer potential for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) in low-temperature environments.
- Designing electrode materials that interface effectively with DES electrolytes is crucial for commercial application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel porous carbon nanosheets (PCNs) from coal tar pitch.
- To optimize PCN morphology, surface area, and porosity for enhanced performance in DES-based EDLCs.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of ultra-low temperature operation for these capacitors.
Main Methods:
- Coal tar pitch was processed using Friedel-Crafts acylation and a melting salt intercalation method.
- PCN properties were tuned by controlling dangling-bond abundance on CTP molecules.
- Symmetrical EDLCs were assembled using PCNs and a K+ DES electrolyte.
Main Results:
- PCNs with large specific surface area, suitable porosity, and 2D structure were successfully synthesized.
- PCNs-0.10 achieved a maximum specific capacitance of 504 F g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹.
- The assembled EDLCs operated effectively between -40°C and 75°C with satisfactory energy density.
Conclusions:
- The developed PCNs provide enhanced active sites and ion transport for high-performance capacitors.
- This strategy offers a viable route for large-scale production of electrode materials for ultra-low temperature capacitors.
- The study highlights the potential of tailored carbon materials for advanced energy storage solutions.
