Carbon molecular sieves as model active electrode materials in supercapacitors

Various microporous carbon molecular sieves are studied as active electrode material for supercapacitors in order to clarify the controversy about the accessibility of the electrolyte to the micropores. Cyclic voltammetry experiments were performed in electrolytes with different ion size. The results showed a clear ion sieving effect when the porosity of the carbon was similar to that of the ions of the electrolyte. Impedance spectroscopy was also useful to evidence diffusion restrictions of the ions into the pores. The results obtained in this study clearly demonstrate that in aqueous media very narrow micropores (0.5 nm) are still capable of forming the electrical double layer. Therefore, the majority of microporous carbons, with wider porosity, are perfectly suitable as active electrode materials for supercapacitors when aqueous electrolytes are used.