Amino acids derived nitrogen-doped carbon materials for electrochemical capacitive energy storage

Environmentally benign natural amino acids, especially histidine-derived nitrogen-doped carbon materials were readily synthesized from polycondensation reaction and subsequent carbonization via the stepwise thermolysis process with high yields of similar to 40% even at a high temperature of 1000 degrees C and the nitrogen-atom contents of around 5 wt%. These materials possessed rolled planar structures as well as thick 2D-like planar structures with specific surface area of 455 m(2)/g, exhibiting a notable specific capacitance of 58 F/g at current densities of 0.1 A/g and superior stability without deterioration of performance values up to 2000 cycles. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.