Facile synthesis of nitrogen self-doped hierarchical porous carbon derived from pine pollen via MgCO3 activation for high-performance supercapacitors

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 438; p. 227013
• Main Authors: Wan, Liu, Song, Ping, Liu, Jiaxing, Chen, Dequan, Xiao, Rui, Zhang, Yan, Chen, Jian, Xie, Mingjiang, Du, Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 31.10.2019
• Subjects: Hierarchical porous carbon; Nitrogen self-doping; Pine pollen; Supercapacitor; Supercapacitor; Pine pollen; Nitrogen self-doping; Hierarchical porous carbon
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227013

The development of simple and green synthetic strategies to obtain porous carbon with both high energy density and power density for carbon-based supercapacitors has motivated the utilization of sustainable biomass materials, due to their unique microstructures and high heteroatom contents. Herein, a novel, green and efficient activation agent magnesium carbonate is proposed to prepare nitrogen self-doped hierarchical porous carbon materials derived from pine pollen for superior carbon-based supercapacitors. The obtained carbon has a large surface area of 1311.2 m2 g−1, hierarchical porous structure with interconnected meso-/macropores and high nitrogen, oxygen contents. When applied as supercapacitor electrode in a three-electrode system, the carbon-based electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 419.6 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, good rate retention of 60.3% from 1 to 100 A g−1 and superior long-term cycling stability with 2.6% loss of its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. Additionally, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor can work at a high voltage of 2.0 V in 1 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte, and deliver an ultrahigh energy density of 34.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 181.0 W kg−1. [Display omitted] •Hierarchical porous carbon is produced from pine pollen.•Magnesium carbonate is employed as an effective activating agent.•The obtained carbon electrode shows a high specific capacitance of 419.6 F g−1.•Symmetric supercapacitor delivers a high energy density of 34.9 Wh kg−1.