Preparation and electrochemical performance of carbon foam by direct pyrolysis of cyanate ester resin

Carbon foams were prepared by direct pyrolysis of cyanate ester (CE) resin at ambient pressure. The structures of the carbon foams prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures were characterized using SEM, XRD and elemental analysis, and their characteristics were studied including bulk density, porosity and electrical conductivity. In addition, the electrochemical performances of the carbon foams used directly as electrodes of electrochemical capacitor were investigated. Results show that the carbon foams possess well-developed pore structures with low density and high porosity, and meanwhile have high nitrogen and oxygen contents as well as good electrical conductivity. Moreover, the carbon foams possess good electrochemical performances, as indicated by that they exhibit almost rectangular-shaped cyclic voltammetry curves and have a maximum specific capacitance of 126 F/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g with excellent cyclability.