Electrochemical properties of carbon xerogel containing nitrogen in a carbon matrix

The characteristics of electrodes based on N-doped carbon xerogels were investigated to clarify their potential use in analytical devices. Carbon xerogels were prepared from a nitrogen-containing polymer precursor using melamine and urea as nitrogen sources that were incorporated into the polymer matrix via the sol–gel process. To investigate the effects of nitrogen on their texture, morphology and surface chemistry, the carbon xerogels were characterised by nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy and acid–base titrations. The electrochemical performance of these materials was studied by preparing carbon xerogel paste electrodes, which were used to determine the specific capacitance and electron transfer kinetics in cyclic voltammetric experiments. The results show that the high density of surface functional groups obtained for N-doped carbon xerogels has a positive influence on electrical double-layer charging and electrochemical kinetics.

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► Carbon xerogel containing nitrogen in their structure were prepared and used to prepare carbon paste electrodes.
► N-doped carbon xerogels were characterised by higher densities of surface functional groups and increased basicity.
► The specific capacitance and electron transfer kinetics were determined.
► The nitrogen introduction on carbon xerogels increased the electron transfer rate and electrical double-layer charging.