Free-standing supercapacitors from Kraft lignin nanofibers with remarkable volumetric energy density.

ABSTRACT: We have discovered a very simple method to address the challenge associated with the low volumetric energy density of free-standing carbon nanofiber electrodes for supercapacitors by electrospinning Kraft lignin in the presence of an oxidizing salt (NaNO₃) and subsequent carbonization in a reducing atmosphere. The presence of the oxidative salt decreases the diameter of the resulting carbon nanofibers doubling their packing density from 0.51 to 1.03 mg cm^-2 and hence doubling the volumetric energy density. At the same time, the oxidative NaNO₃ salt eletrospun and carbonized together with lignin dissolved in NaOH acts as a template to increase the microporosity, thus contributing to a good gravimetric energy density. By simply adjusting the process parameter

SUBMITTER: Schlee P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6427945 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature