Investigations of Activated Carbon Fabric-based Supercapacitors with Different Interlayers via Experiments and Modelling of Electrochemical Processes of Different Timescales

This study includes a novel approach of applying an equivalent electric circuit model of two resistors and three constant phase elements (CPEs) to the galvanostatic charge-discharge of supercapacitors which provides virtual monitoring of the electrochemical processes taking place in parallel at different timescales and offers remarkable insights into the coexistence composition and cascade of such processes during the charge-discharge of cells at different current densities. This modelling method has been applied to analyse the performance of high energy density supercapacitors based on a microporous, phenolic-derived, activated carbon fabric (ACF) with different interlayers with the current collector (CC). Associated experimental studies deal with the challenge of overcoming the high contact resistance between the ACF and the current collector (CC) by employing innovative interlayers containing conductive features or structures to fill or bridge the interface gaps between the ACF fibers and the CC foil and the pores of the activated carbon (AC) fiber surface. Such interlayers involve tree-like microstructures of carbon black nanoparticles or deflocculated graphite platelets or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) deposited electrophoretically on the aluminium foil and the ACF. The use of PEDOT: PSS binder in such interlayer raises performance to maximum 44 Wh/kg and 9 kW/kg for electrolyte 1.5 M TEABF(4)/AN. These are further raised by 17% and 13%, respectively, using electrolyte 1.5 M SBPBF4/AN, and by 19% (both) using a thin polyolefinic separator against the thicker, cellulose-based separator. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.