Influence of physical properties of activated carbons on characteristics of electric double-layer capacitors

Electrochemical characterization has been carried out for several activated carbons used as polarizable electrodes of electric double-layer capacitors in an aqueous electrolytic solution. The rest potential of the activated carbon was proportional to the logarithm of the oxygen content or to the concentration of the acidic surface functional groups of the activated carbon. The result of triangular voltage-sweep cyclic voltammetry was the same as that of the residual current measurement. The oxygen content and concentration of the acidic surface groups of activated carbon influenced the electrochemical characteristics of the activated carbon. Under anodic polarization, gas evolution was observed at the electrode surface of activated carbon with high oxygen content at 0.8 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Gas evolution was not observed at the electrode surface of activated carbon with low oxygen content even to 1.0 V versus SCE. Under cathodic polarization of activated carbon with high oxygen content, the peak was observed at approximately -0.2 V versus SCE, but there was no gas evolution at the electrode surface of the activated carbon. Bubbles were not observed at the electrode surface of activated carbon with low oxygen content at -0.5 V versus SCE. Electric double-layer capacitors were made from activated carbons used for electrochemical measurements; load-life tests have been carried out. Thickness and internal resistance of the capacitor composed of activated carbon with high oxygen content increased. The changes in thickness and internal resistance of the capacitor composed of activated carbon with low oxygen content were small.