Silicon Carbide-Derived Carbon Prepared by Fused Salt Electrolysis and Electrochemical Performance

Abstract

A number of carbide-derived carbon (CDC) samples were successfully synthesized by the electrolysis of SiC powder in molten CaCl2. The electrolysis was conducted at different temperatures (850, 900, and 950°C) for 48 h in argon at an applied constant voltage of 3.1 V. The structure of the resulting carbon is characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope techniques. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements are applied to investigate electrochemical performances of the SiC-CDC material. It can be seen that the degree of order of the SiC-CDC increases monotonically along with elevation of reaction temperature, while the highest specific surface area 1137.74 m2/g together with a specific capacitance of 161.27 F/g at a current density 300 mA/g was achieved from sample synthesized at 900°C.