Hierarchical porous hollow of carbon spheres with high surface area for high performance supercapacitor electrode materials

Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate a synthesis of mesoporous carbon spheres via a self-assembly of resorcinol-formaldehyde polymer and surfactant F127 in aqueous phase in the presence of phytic acid as the catalyst and phosphorus source. The obtained mesoporous carbon spheres have high phosphorus content and excellent electrochemical performance. The enhancement of the electrochemical performance of the material is primarily attributed to the structural characteristics and chemical properties of phosphorus atoms being similar to those of nitrogen atoms, and the atomic radius being slightly larger than that of nitrogen atoms, with strong electron donating ability. After successful doping, rich active sites are formed. These carbon spheres are examined as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The structural characterization revealed that the mesoporous carbon spheres possessed an average pore diameter of 2.4 nm and a specific surface area of 1207 m2 g− 1. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated a specific capacitance of 257.5 F g− 1 at 0.5 A g− 1 in a three-electrode configuration. used as supercapacitor electrodes with a capacitance of 92.8 F g− 1 at a current density of 0.5 A g− 1. Furthermore, the energy density is 4.64 Wh Kg− 1 at a power density of 150 W Kg− 1 and the capacitance retention rate is 98.99% After 5000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g− 1, an extremely highly promising supercapacitor electrode material.