Aromatic sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone mediated mesoporous carbon monolith for use in supercapacitor

Monoliths of aromatic sulfur mediated mesoporous carbon were fabricated via an aqueous self-assembly strategy and the species of sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone on the surface can be tuned rationally. The resultant S-doped mesoporous carbon exhibited superior performance as supercapacitor electrodes. The controllable modulation of sulfur species provided a possibility to clearly understand the role sulfur playing and allowed mechanistic insight into material requirements for high performance capacitors.

Graphical abstractMonoliths of aromatic sulfide modified mesoporous carbon were fabricated via an organic–organic aqueous self-assembly strategy. A following hydrogen peroxide treatment further mediated sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone species of the obtained materials on surface. The controllable modulation of sulfur species allowed mechanistic insight into material requirements for high performance capacitor and provided a possibility to clearly understand the role sulfur playing.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Monoliths of aromatic sulfur mediated mesoporous carbon are fabricated via aqueous self-assembly strategy. ► Species of sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone on the surface of mesoporous carbon are rationally tuned. ► Resultant S-doped mesoporous carbons exhibit superior performance as supercapacitor electrodes. ► Mechanistic insight on the nanocarbon requirements for high performance capacitor is proposed.