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Title: Correlation of double-layer capacitance with the pore structure of sol-gel derived carbon xerogels

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1392526· OSTI ID:20001075

Nine different sol-gel derived carbon xerogels were prepared with different pore structures by varying the carbonization temperature (in flowing N{sub 2}) and activation time (in 5% CO{sub 2} in N{sub 2}). For each of these carbon xerogels, mesopore and micropore size distributions and cumulative surface areas were extracted from a density functional theory analysis. Increasing the carbonization temperature caused a decrease in the number of micropores in the 6 {angstrom} range but had little effect on the mesopore size distribution and thus mesopore cumulative surface area. Increasing the CO{sub 2} activation time caused an increase in the number of both micro- and mesopores where pores in the 6 {angstrom} width range eventually became pores in the 12 {angstrom} width range. The electrochemical double-layer capacitance (DLC) of the carbon xerogels was found to correlate well with changes in the pore structure, and it was determined that pores less than about 8 {angstrom} in width did not contribute to the DLC.

Research Organization:
Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of the Army; USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC02-91ER75666
OSTI ID:
20001075
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 146, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1999; ISSN 0013-4651
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English