Indium tin oxide/carbon composite electrode material for electrochemical supercapacitors

Composite electrodes using activated carbon (AC) and indium tin oxide, ITO (5 wt % In2O3 + SnO2) were characterized in 1 M KOH for electrochemical supercapacitors. ITO was prepared by a nitrate decomposition method and reverse precipitation method. A 75% increase in capacitance compared to pristine carbon was observed at 100 mV s(-1) with ITO prepared by the reverse precipitation method. Effect of calcination temperature and the quantity of ITO on the values of capacitance was studied. The increase in capacitance values of AC could be attributed to the higher conductivity and nanosize of ITO powders. Stability of ITO was also examined. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.