Activation of structural carbon fibres for potential applications in multifunctional structural supercapacitors

作者：Qian Hui; Diao Hele; Shirshova Natasha; Greenhalgh Emile S; Steinke Joachim G H; Shaffer Milo S P^*; Bismarck Alexander

来源：Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2013, 395: 241-248.

DOI：10.1016/j.jcis.2012.12.015

• Carbon fibres
• Activation
• N-2 adsorption
• Electrochemical capacitance
• Tensile properties

The feasibility of modifying conventional structural carbon fibres via activation has been studied to create fibres, which can be used simultaneously as electrode and reinforcement in structural composite supercapacitors. Both physical and chemical activation, including using steam, carbon dioxide, acid and potassium hydroxide, were conducted and the resulting fibre properties compared. It was proven that the chemical activation using potassium hydroxide is an effective method to prepare activated structural carbon fibres that possess both good electrochemical and mechanical properties. The optimal activation conditions, such as the loading of activating agent and the burn-off of carbon fibres, was identified and delivered a 100-fold increase in specific surface area and 50-fold improvement in specific electrochemical capacitance without any degradation of the fibre mechanical properties. The activation process was successfully scaled-up, showing good uniformity and reproducibility. These activated structural carbon fibres are promising candidates as reinforcement/electrodes for multifunctional structural energy storage devices.

• 出版日期2013-4-1