Electrochemical characteristics of nanoporous carbide-derived carbon materials in various nonaqueous electrolyte solutions

Electrochemical characteristics for the carbide-derived nanoporous carbon (prepared from TiC, alpha-SiC, Mo2C, Al4C3, and B4C) in 1 M various tetraalkyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile, gamma-butyrolactone, and propylene carbonate electrolyte solutions has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The specific surface area, pore size distribution, nanopore volume, and other characteristics, dependent on the precursor carbide used (nanopores are pores in the range of 2 nm and below, i.e., micropores according to IUPAC classification), have been obtained using the gas adsorption measurements at temperature of liquid nitrogen. The region of ideal polarizability, values of series, parallel capacitances and resistances, and other characteristics dependent on the precursor carbide used for carbon synthesis have been established. The dependence of nanoporous material characteristics on the gas-phase properties has been established and discussed. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society.