Comparison of the characteristics of electric double-layer capacitors with an activated carbon powder and an activated carbon fiber

Abstract

The characteristics of electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with activated carbon powder (ACP), pulverized activated carbon fiber (ACF), and ACF-cloth have been compared. The BET surface areas of the ACP and ACF were estimated to be 1740 and 1970 m² g⁻¹, respectively. In the pore-size distribution curve of the ACP and ACF, the most dominant pore diameter was 1.8 and 1.1 nm for the ACP and ACF, respectively. Disc- and cloth-type of electrodes were fabricated using ACP and ACF. The electrical resistance of the ACF-disc and ACF-cloth electrodes was four orders of magnitudes lower than that of the ACP-disc electrodes. In accordance with the lower electrical resistance of the ACF-disc and ACF-cloth, the d.c. resistance of the EDLC with the ACF-disc and with ACF-cloth was lower than that of the EDLC with the ACP-disc. The highest specific volume capacitance of 28.3 F cm⁻³ (capacitance / volume of total ACF in the EDLC) was achieved with the ACF-disc. In the cyclic voltammograms of the ACF-disc, the stable electric double-layer charging and discharging behavior was observed.