Poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based carbons as electrode material in supercapacitors

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 195; no. 12; pp. 3810 - 3813
• Main Authors: Domingo-García, M., Fernández, J.A., Almazán-Almazán, M.C., López-Garzón, F.J., Stoeckli, F., Centeno, T.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-06-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Applied sciences; Aqueous electrolytes; Capacitors; Capacitors. Resistors. Filters; Carbon; Density; Double layer; Electric potential; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Materials; PET; Supercapacitor; Supercapacitors; Various equipment and components; Supercapacitor; Double layer; Activated carbon; PET; Ethylene terephthalate polymer; Waste reuse; Carbon electrode; Electrode material; Chemical synthesis; Porous material; Double layers
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.12.090

A systematic study by complementary techniques shows that PET-waste from plastic vessels is a competitive precursor of carbon electrodes for supercapacitors. PET derived-activated carbons follow the general trends observed for highly porous carbons and display specific capacitances at low current density as high as 197
F
g
−1 in 2
M H
2SO
4 aqueous electrolyte and 98
F
g
−1 in the aprotic medium 1
M (C
2H
5)
4NBF
4/acetonitrile. Additionally, high performance has also been achieved at high current densities, which confirms the potential of this type of materials for electrical energy storage.
A new method based on the basic solvolysis of PET-waste and the subsequent carbonization seems to be an interesting alternative to obtain porous carbons with enhanced properties for supercapacitors.