Enhanced capacitance of a nitrogen-containing carbon-based nanocomposite via noncovalent functionalization method

• Large surface area (899 m2 g−1) ordered carbon (OC) was modified via noncovalent functionalization method using Basic Red 2 (BR2) dye to obtain nitrogen (N)-containing carbon-based nanocomposite (OC–BR2) with enhanced electrical properties.
• The optimum conditions for the noncovalent functionalization were obtained at room temperature, pH 10, OC loading of 0.2 g L−1, and 180 min of contact time.
• Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the physisorption of BR2 on OC have been carried out under variable conditions.
• The obtained OC–BR2 shows enhanced capacitance (48.4%) with maximum CS value 227 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 comparable to similar materials modified via chemical doping.
• The OC–BR2 has potential as a material for the storage of energy in electrochemical capacitor.

Ordered carbon (OC) with large surface area was prepared via replication by using Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 as a template and sucrose as a carbon precursor. The prepared OC was then noncovalently functionalized with Basic Red 2 dye precursor (BR2) to obtain OC–BR2, a nitrogen-containing carbon-based nanocomposite with enhanced electrical properties. The functionalization was explained through adsorption isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies performed under variable conditions. The electrochemical performance test results demonstrated that the nanocomposite presents enhanced capacitance (48.4%) compared with the original OC, with maximum specific capacitance of 227 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in 1 M KOH electrolyte.

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