Microporous Carbon Materials by Hydrogen Treatment: The Balance of Porosity and Graphitization upon the Capacitive Performance

The balance of porosity and graphitization toward carbon materials plays acrucial role in determining the capacitive performance. In this work, this purpose has been successfully implemented by adjusting the carbonization temperature and hydrogen gas treatment. Oxygen containing functional groups have conspicuously reduced by the coeffects of hydrogen gas and high temperature on carbon materials. Besides, by treatment at a temperature of 800 C with hydrogen, the electrochemical performances have been greatly improved. The electrode treated at the temperature of 800 C with hydrogen displays higher specific capacitances of 171 F g(-1) compared with that of bare carbon electrode of 145 F g(-1), owing to enlarged BET surface area and pore volume and reduced resistance. At the same time, the electrode treated at the temperature of 800 C with hydrogen exhibits a higher cycling stability of 96.3% of primary specific capacitances after 5000 cycles and energy density of 8.36 Wh kg(-1), respectively.