High electrochemical capacitor performance of oxygen and nitrogen enriched activated carbon derived from the pyrolysis and activation of squid gladius chitin

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 386; pp. 66 - 76
• Main Authors: Raj, C. Justin, Rajesh, Murugesan, Manikandan, Ramu, Yu, Kook Hyun, Anusha, J.R., Ahn, Jun Hwan, Kim, Dong-Won, Park, Sang Yeup, Kim, Byung Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.05.2018
• Subjects: Cyclic stability; Flexible device; Impedance spectroscopy; Nitrogen doped activated carbon; Supercapacitor; Cyclic stability; Supercapacitor; Nitrogen doped activated carbon; Flexible device; Impedance spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.03.038

Activated carbon containing nitrogen functionalities exhibits excellent electrochemical property which is more interesting for several renewable energy storage and catalytic applications. Here, we report the synthesis of microporous oxygen and nitrogen doped activated carbon utilizing chitin from the gladius of squid fish. The activated carbon has large surface area of 1129 m2 g−1 with microporous network and possess ∼4.04% of nitrogen content in the form of pyridinic/pyrrolic-N, graphitic-N and N-oxide groups along with oxygen and carbon species. The microporous oxygen/nitrogen doped activated carbon is utilize for the fabrication of aqueous and flexible supercapacitor electrodes, which presents excellent electrochemical performance with maximum specific capacitance of 204 Fg−1 in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte and 197 Fg−1 as a flexible supercapacitor. Moreover, the device displays 100% of specific capacitance retention after 25,000 subsequent charge/discharge cycles in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte. [Display omitted] •A novel O- and N- doped activated carbon is derived from squid gladius chitin.•The microporous carbon is used for the fabrication of supercapacitor electrodes.•The supercapacitors demonstrated remarkable electrochemical performances.•The device shows long stability of ∼100% after 25,000 charge/discharge cycles.