Design of wood-derived anisotropic structural carbon electrode for high-performance supercapacitor

It is an effective way to develop basswood (Tilia americana, hardwood)-derived thick carbon electrode for high energy density supercapacitors. The wood-derived anisotropic structural carbon electrodes have different transfer kinetics of the electrolyte, which will significantly affect the electrochemical performance especially at high current density. Therefore, the relationship between the sectional wood-derived electrodes and the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors were systematically studied. The results show that the high specific surface area (542 m(2) g(-1)) of cross-sectional wood-derived carbon contributes to the excellent electrochemical performance (specific/area capacitance similar to 3040 mF cm(-2)/118 F g(-1) at 1 mA cm(-2), cycle stability similar to 82.2% after 10,000 cycles at 50 mA cm(-2), and capacitive contribution of 76.64% at 5 mV s(-1)), which is attributed to the hierarchical porous structure and easily allows electrolytes to enter the interior even at high current density. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the dynamic behaviors of electrolyte at different wood sections, and it is expected to be extended to other wood species and wood-like structures for energy storage applications.

Automated summary

This study explores the development of thick carbon electrodes derived from basswood and their application in high energy density supercapacitors. The anisotropic structural carbon electrodes derived from wood exhibit different transfer kinetics of the electrolyte, which significantly impacts the electrochemical performance, especially at high current density. The results show that the cross-sectional wood-derived carbon with high specific surface area contributes to excellent electrochemical performance, attributed to its hierarchical porous structure that allows easy access for the electrolytes even at high current density. This work provides insights into the dynamic behaviors of electrolyte in different wood sections and can be extended to other wood species and wood-like structures for energy storage applications.