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Application of a novel binder for activated carbon-based electrical double layer capacitors with nonaqueous electrolytes

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Abstract

In this work, we have fabricated activated carbon electrodes using the binder LA135 and assembled electrical double layer capacitors with nonaqueous electrolytes of 1 M tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (Et4NBF4) in propylene carbonate (PC), 1 M Et4NBF4 in acetonitrile (AN), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIMBF4) ionic liquid, respectively. The main chemical compositions of the binder are polyacrylonitrile and styrene–butadiene rubber. Scanning electron microscope images show that the conductive agents have been uniformly dispersed on the activated carbons in the electrode. The thermal stabilities of electrodes using different binders are studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical properties of cells in different nonaqueous electrolytes are characterized by cyclic voltagramms, electrochemical impedance spectra, galvanostatic charge–discharge, leakage current, and cycle life measurements. The capacitor in Et4NBF4/AN has the lowest internal resistance and superior high-rate capability, and the one in Et4NBF4/PC has the smallest leakage current. The capacitor in EMIMBF4 has the energy density as high as 35.4 Wh kg−1 at a current density of 0.2 A g−1 (based on the total mass of active materials), which is 1.6 times higher than that of capacitor in PC electrolyte. Besides, the electrochemical properties of capacitors with different binders are comparatively studied. The capacitor using LA135 has the highest specific capacitance and moderate internal resistance comparing with the ones using poly(tetrafluoroethylene), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose + styrene–butadiene rubber or poly (vinylidene fluoride).

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (no. KJCX2-YW-W26), the Science and Technology Project of Beijing, China (no. Z111100056011007), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 21001103 and 51025726). One of the authors would like to thank Dr. F. Ye (IPE, CAS) and Dr. H. Luo (GIEC, CAS) for their help in FT-IR measurements and analysis of EMIMBF4 (the results are not shown in the paper). Mr. K. Yoshioka (JCC) and Mr. M. Takahashi (JCK) are acknowledged for providing samples of etched aluminum foil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Superconductivity, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People’s Republic of China

    Xianzhong Sun, Xiong Zhang, Haitao Zhang, Bo Huang & Yanwei Ma

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  1. Xianzhong Sun
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  2. Xiong Zhang
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  3. Haitao Zhang
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  4. Bo Huang
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  5. Yanwei Ma
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Correspondence to Yanwei Ma.

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Sun, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, H. et al. Application of a novel binder for activated carbon-based electrical double layer capacitors with nonaqueous electrolytes. J Solid State Electrochem 17, 2035–2042 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-013-2051-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-013-2051-1

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