Supercapacitors based on carbon foams
OwnerJames L. Kaschmitter, Steven T. Mayer +1inventors
InventorsJames L. Kaschmitter, Steven T. Mayer, Richard W. Pekala
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Abstract
A high energy density capacitor incorporating a variety of carbon foam electrodes is described. The foams, derived from the pyrolysis of resorcinol-formaldehyde and related polymers, are high density (0.1 g/cc-1.0 g/cc) electrically conductive and have high surface areas (400 m.sup.2 /g-1000 m.sup.2 /g). Capacitances on the order of several tens of farad per gram of electrode are achieved.
Claims33
A capacitor having an electrode comprising a carbon foam.
An electrode comprising a carbon foam derived from the pyrolysis of mixtures consisting of resorcinol-furfural, resorcinol-formaldehyde, phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde, catechol-formaldehyde, and phloroglucinol-formaldehyde, the foam having a density of between about 0.1 g/cc to about 1.2 g/cc and a surface area of between about 100 m.sup.2 /g to about 1200 m.sup.2 /g.
A capacitor, comprising:
- a) a first electrode, the first electrode comprising a conductive material;
- b) a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a carbon foam;
- and
- c) an electrode separator disposed between the electrodes, the electrode separator comprising an electrically nonconductive, ionically conductive material.
A capacitor, the capacitor comprising:
- a) a plurality of cells, each cell comprising:
- i) a first electrode, the first electrode comprising a conductive material;
- ii) a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a carbon foam;
- and
- iii) an electrode separator disposed between the electrodes, the electrode separator comprising an electrically nonconductive, ionically conductive material;
- and
- b) an electrical connection between the cells.
A capacitor, comprising:
- a) a first cell, the first cell comprising:
- i) first and second electrodes, the electrodes comprising carbon aerogels;
- ii) a first electrode separator disposed between the electrodes, the first electrode separator being comprised of an electrically nonconductive, ionically conductive material;
- iii) a first metal coating adhering to the electrodes;
- iv) a first solder-wettable coating provided on the first metal coatings;
- and
- b) a second cell, the second cell comprising:
- i) first and second electrodes, the electrodes comprising carbon aerogels;
- ii) a second electrode separator disposed between the electrodes, the second electrode separator being comprised of an electrically nonconductive, ionically conductive material;
- iii) a second metal coating adhering to the electrodes;
- iv) a second solder-wettable coating provided on the second metal coatings;
- and
- c) an electrical connection between the first and second cells.
In a process for preparing high density carbon aerogels derived from the pyrolysis of organic aerogels, the improvement comprising:
- a) exchanging the gel with a solvent under predetermined nonsupercritical temperature and pressure conditions;
- and
- b) extracting the gel under predetermined nonsupercritical temperature and pressure conditions to form an aerogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.