Preparation of mesoporous MgO-templated carbons from phenolic resin and their applications for electric double-layer capacitors

Abstract

Mesoporous carbons were synthesized using thermoplastic phenolic resin (PF) as carbonaceous precursor and magnesium citrate as template precursor. Pore structure was determined as ink-bottle-like geometry through TEM, N2 adsorption analysis combined with TG curves. The porous carbons prepared were then applied as electrode material for electric double-layer capacitors. The capacitor performance was examined in 30 wt% KOH aqueous solution by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements. The carbon prepared with MgO/PF mass ratio of 8/2 had a BET surface area of 1920 m2 g-1 and exhibited a capacitance of 220 F g-1 at a current density of 50 mA g-1. Besides, the carbon with the ratio of 4/6 had the optimize proportion of mesopores, which ensures its good rate performance that up to 98. 3%, expressed as the ratio of the capacitance measured at 1000 mA g-1 against that at 50 mA g-1. © 2013 The Author(s).