Synthesis of micro- and meso-porous carbon derived from cellulose as an electrode material for supercapacitors

Cellulose has been explored as a tentative renewable carbon source to convert into micro-and mesoporous carbon (MMC) via carbonizing cellulose aerogel at a temperature of 700 degrees C without further activation. The obtained MMC materials based on cellulose possess a specific surface area of 646 m(2) g (1), a pore volume of 0.4403 m(3) g (1), with an optimal pore structure that consists of the micropores in average size of 1.49 nm and the mesopores in the range of 2.25 similar to 3.32 nm. A two-electrode symmetric supercapacitor based on the MMC materials exhibits a comparable high electrochemical performance with a large capacitance (up to 160 Fg (1) at 0.2 Ag (1)), an high energy density of 17.81 Wh kg (1) at a power density of 180.11W kg (1) in the voltage range of 0 V to 1.8 V. The mesoporous can provide a good channel to further facilitate the electrolyte ion penetrating inner pores, while the microporous can store more electrolyte ions. The above cooperative effect of MMC is the key to the high-performance of the supercapacitors. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.