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Application of corncob-based activated carbon as electrode material for electric double-layer capacitors

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Abstract

To investigate the influence of expansion pretreatment for materials on carbon structure, activated carbons (ACs) were prepared from corncob with/without expansion pretreatment by KOH activation, the structure properties of which were determined based on N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K. The results show that the expansion pretreatment for corncobs is beneficial to the preparation of ACs with high surface area. The specific surface area of the AC derived from corncob with expansion pretreatment (AC-1) is 32.5% larger than that without expansion pretreatment (AC-2). Furthermore, to probe the potential application of corncob-based ACs in electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC), the prepared ACs were used as electrode materials to assemble EDLC, and its electrochemical performance was investigated. The results indicate that the specific capacitance of AC-1 is 276 F/g at 50 mA/g, which increases by 27% compared with that of AC-2 (217 F/g). As electrode materials, AC-1 presents a better electrochemical performance than AC-2, including a higher voltage maintenance ratio and a lower leakage current.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Yuxin Wang  (王玉新) & Bingsi Liu  (刘炳泗)

  2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Fiber Modification and Functional Fiber, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300160, China

    Zhiqiang Shi  (时志强)

  3. Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co. Ltd, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Fengdan Liu  (刘凤丹)

Authors
  1. Yuxin Wang  (王玉新)
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  2. Bingsi Liu  (刘炳泗)
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  3. Zhiqiang Shi  (时志强)
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  4. Fengdan Liu  (刘凤丹)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhiqiang Shi  (时志强).

Additional information

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50902102 and No. 51172160).

WANG Yuxin, born in 1974, female, Dr, lecturer.

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Wang, Y., Liu, B., Shi, Z. et al. Application of corncob-based activated carbon as electrode material for electric double-layer capacitors. Trans. Tianjin Univ. 18, 217–223 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-012-1799-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-012-1799-1

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