Carbon foams from emulsion-templated reduced graphene oxide polymer composites: electrodes for supercapacitor devices
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Amphiphilic reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is an efficient emulsifier for water-in-divinylbenzene (DVB) high internal phase emulsions. The polymerisation of the continuous DVB phase of the emulsion template and removal of water results in macroporous poly(divinylbenzene) (polyDVB). Subsequent pyrolysis of the poly(DVB) macroporous polymers yields ‘all-carbon’ foams containing micropores alongside emulsion templated-macropores, resulting in hierarchical porosity. The synthesis of carbon foams, or ‘carboHIPEs’, from poly(DVB) produced by polymerisation of rGO stabilised HIPEs provides both exceptionally high surface areas (up to 1820 m2/g) and excellent electrical conductivities (up to 285 S/m), competing with the highest figures reported for carboHIPEs. The use of a 2D carbon emulsifier results in the elimination of post-carbonisation treatments to remove standard inorganic particulate emulsifiers, such as silica particles. It is demonstrated that rGO containing carboHIPEs are good candidates for supercapacitor electrodes where carboHIPEs derived from more conventional polymerised silica-stabilised HIPEs perform poorly. Supercapacitor devices featured a room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte and electrodes derived from either rGO- or silica-containing poly(DVB)HIPEs and demonstrated a maximum specific capacitance of 26 F g-1, an energy density of 5.2 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 280 W kg-1.
Date Issued
2018-01-01
Date Acceptance
2017-12-30
Citation
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2018, 6, pp.1840-1849
ISSN
2050-7496
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
1840
End Page
1849
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
6
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2017. his article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/J014974/1
EP/K01658X/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Energy & Fuels
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Materials Science
INTERNAL PHASE EMULSIONS
DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITOR
ELECTROCHEMICAL CAPACITORS
PERFORMANCE
FABRICATION
REDUCTION
MONOLITHS
SCIENCE
ENERGY
SIZE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-01-01