Synthesis of nitrogen-doped polymeric resin-derived porous carbon for high performance supercapacitors

A series of nitrogen-doped (N-doped) polymeric resin-derived porous carbons (NPCs) have been fabricated by a direct carbonization of the mixture of polymeric resin and potassium acetate. The polymeric resin serves as carbon and nitrogen precursor and potassium acetate as activation agent. The prepared carbons have a high specific surface area of 1946 m(2) g(-1) and high N content of approximately 6.37 at%. The NPC-700 sample exhibits a highest specific capacitance of 312 F g(-1) at 0.5 A g(-1) in a three-electrode system in 7 M KOH. When tested with a two-electrode system, the optimal sample NPC-800 shows a good rate performance (capacitance retention of 73% in the range of 0.05 A g(-1) to 20 A g(-1)) and high cycling stability (96.5% retention after 5000 cycles at 2 A g(-1)). The easy preparation and superior electrochemical performances render the NPCs a promising alternative electrode material for supercapacitor.