Synthesis of layered microporous carbons from coal tar by directing, space-confinement and self-sacrificed template strategy for supercapacitors

•Layered microporous carbons were prepared by using a self-sacrificed template.•The self-sacrificed template plays a directing and space-confinement role.•Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal tar are used as building blocks directly.•Layered microporous carbons show high capacitance and good cycle stability.

It is a challenge to synthesize low-cost carbon materials with abundant pores by a simple route for supercapacitors. Herein, layered microporous carbons (LMPCs) with the specific surface area up to 1865 m2 g−1 are fabricated from coal tar and melamine via a directing, space-confinement and self-sacrificed template strategy coupled with in-situ KOH activation. The button-type supercapacitor fabricated from LMPCs exhibits a high specific capacitance of 274 F g−1 at 0.05 A g−1, a good rate performance of 191 F g−1 at 20 A g−1 and a superior cycle stability with 98.8% capacitance retention after 10000 cycles. This work presents a facile strategy for mass production of LMPCs from liquid polycyclic hydrocarbon molecules for supercapacitors.

Graphical abstractWe demonstrate a directing, space-confinement and self-sacrificed template coupling with in-situ chemical activation strategy to synthesize layered microporous carbons for supercapacitors.Download high-res image (148KB)Download full-size image