A facile soft-template synthetic approach of surface integrated nitrogen-rich carbon nanospheres for light-weight supercapacitors

Nitrogen-rich carbon nanospheres (NCNs) with a uniform low diameter (< 50 nm) and high specific surface area (SSA, 455 m(2) g(-1)) have synthesized by a simple and facile soft-template strategy by carbonizing polyaniline-co-polypyrrole (PACPP) nanospheres which have further synthesized by polymerization/self-assembly of aniline and pyrrole under ice-cold conditions. The synthesized NCNs are confirmed by using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The existence of numerous nitrogen-oxygen functionalities is affirmed by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). These uniquely-synthesized NCNs deliver a good electrochemical response at 1 A g(-1) with a maximum specific capacitance (C-s) of 156 F g(-1). The NCNs electrode has possessed an extraordinary retention rate ability of 62.2% over 5 A g(-1). Exclusive investigation research provides an ideal route for synthesizing NCNs for numerous applications in medicine, environment, particularly for high energy storage/conversion aspects as well as further applicable to other materials. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Nitrogen-rich carbon nanospheres (NCNs) with uniform low diameter and high specific surface area were successfully synthesized by a simple and facile soft-template strategy, showing excellent electrochemical performance.