Electrochemical double layer capacitor and lithium-ion capacitor based on carbon black

In this paper we report the physical investigation and the electrochemical performance of the carbon black SC3 from Cabot Corporation. The SC3 carbon black was investigated in terms of BET surface area, pore size distribution, resistivity and morphology. Composite electrodes containing SC3 as active material were prepared and used for the realization of electrochemical double layer capacitor (EDLC) and lithium-ion capacitor (LIC). In EDLC, at 5 mA cm(-2) charge-discharge currents, the carbon black displays a specific capacity of 40 mAh g(-1) and a specific capacitance of 115 F g(-1). It also displays a very good cycling stability for over 50,000 cycles and excellent performance retention at currents up to 50 mA cm(-2). The performance retention at high currents outstandingly differentiates this carbon black from a few commercially available EDLC-grade activated carbons. Because of the high specific capacity of SC3, the carbon black electrodes were also used in combination with LiFePO4 electrodes in LIC. The results of this study indicate that SC3 carbon black is an interesting carbonaceous candidate for the realization of LIC. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.