Micropore-Rich Yolk-Shell N-doped Carbon Spheres: An Ideal Electrode Material for High-Energy Capacitive Energy Storage

Abstract

Increasing the energy density of electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) can broaden their applications in energy storage but remains a formidable challenge. Herein, micropore-rich yolk-shell structured N-doped carbon spheres (YSNCSs) were constructed by a one-pot surfactant-free self-assembly method in aqueous solution. The resultant YSNCSs after activation possessed an ultrahigh surface area of 2536 m2 g−1, among which 80 % was contributed from micropores. When applied in EDLCs, the activated YSNCSs demonstrated an unprecedentedly high capacitance (270 F g−1 at 1 A g−1) in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM][BF4]) ionic liquid, affording an ultrahigh energy density (133 Wh kg−1 at 943 W kg−1). The present contribution provides insight into engineering porous carbons for capacitive energy storage.