Electrode Nanocomposites of Supercapacitors Based on Functionalized Activated Charcoal Filled with Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

The use of activated charcoal in electrodes for supercapacitors seems very promising. When activated charcoal is treated with aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, oxygen-bearing functional groups are formed—primarily carbonyl groups. (This process is known as functionalization.) That results in approximately 40% increase in the electrical capacitance. If filler—2 wt % gold nanoparticles—is introduced in the resulting material, its pore structure is not blocked. By this means, the electrical capacitance may be increased by a further ~10%. The electrical capacitance of this nanostructured electrode material proves very stable (~86%) in repeated cycling of the potential (up to 500 cycles).