Hierarchically porous nickel hydroxide/mesoporous carbon composite materials for electrochemical capacitors

• Published in: Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol. 132; no. 1; pp. 154 - 162
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jing, Kong, Ling-Bin, Cai, Jian-Jun, Li, Heng, Luo, Yong-Chun, Kang, Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Capacitance; Carbon; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Electrochemical capacitors; Electrochemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hierarchically porous structure; Hydroxides; Mesoporous carbon; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nickel; Nickel hydroxide; Porous materials; Specific capacitance; Surface physical chemistry; Specific capacitance; Hierarchically porous structure; Nickel hydroxide; Mesoporous carbon; Electrochemical capacitors; Particle size; Support; Potential; Porous material; Composite material; Characterization; Design; Electrodes; Activated carbon; Structure; Chemical precipitation; Nanostructure; Carbon; Mesoporosity; Electrochemical properties; Morphology; Electrochemistry; Capacitance; Electrical conductance; Surface area; Microstructure
• ISSN: 1387-1811; 1873-3093
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2010.02.013

Hierarchically porous composite materials consisting of nanoflake-like nickel hydroxide and mesoporous carbon are synthesized by a facile chemical precipitation method. The effects of microstructure and morphology of the carbon support on the electrochemical properties of the composite are also investigated. Structural characterizations have revealed that nanometer-sized nickel hydroxide nanoflakes can grow on the surface of mesoporous carbon supports. The mesoporous carbon-based composites shows better structure with interlaced nanoflakes and higher specific capacitance than activated carbon-based composite. The composite material with mesoporous carbon morphology of large particle size and long channel lengths possesses the highest specific capacitance of 2570 F/g, suggesting its potential applications as the electrode materials for electrochemical capacitors. The overall improved electrochemical behavior can be attributed to the unique structure design in nickel hydroxide/mesoporous carbon composite in terms of its nanostructure, large specific surface area and good electrical conductance.