High energy density capacitor using coal tar pitch derived nanoporous carbon/MnO2 electrodes in aqueous electrolytes

Timothy Tomko, Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan, Michael Lanagan, Henry C. Foley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Asymmetric aqueous electrochemical capacitors with energy densities as high as 22 Wh kg-1, power densities of 11 kW kg-1 and a cell voltage of 2 V were fabricated using cost effective, high surface carbon derived from coal tar pitch and manganese dioxide. The narrow pore size distribution of the activated carbon (mean pore size ∼0.8 nm) resulted in strong electroadsorption of protons making them suitable for use as negative electrodes. Amorphous manganese dioxide anodes were synthesized by chemical precipitation method with high specific capacitance (300 F g-1) in aqueous electrolytes containing bivalent cations. The fabricated capacitors demonstrated excellent cyclability with no signs of capacitance fading even after 1000 cycles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2380-2386
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume196
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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