Effect of surfactants on capacitance properties of carbon electrodes

Effect of surfactants present in alkaline solutions on the capacitance of carbon electrodes has been studied. Different types of surfactants, i.e., sodium and lithium dodecyl sulphate as anionic surfactants, tetrapropylammonium bromide and iodide as cationic surfactants and polymer of polyethylene glycol and p-t-octylophenol (commercially called Triton® X-100) as non-ionic one have been selected for this target. Concentration of these electrolyte additives was 0.005 mol L−1. Decreasing the surface tension in the electrode/electrolyte interface allows better penetration of electrolyte into the pores. However, surfactants played a different role depending on the electrode polarity. Detailed analysis of capacitance versus current load, frequency dependence as well as self-discharge, cyclability and behaviour in wider voltage range proved especially a profitable effect of Triton® X-100 on capacitor operating in alkaline solution. Influence of surfactant concentration on capacitance properties was also investigated.