본 연구에서는 싸이크론 헥산에서 PVC와 트리에틸디아민 (TEDA), 1,4-디메틸피페라진 (DMP) 및 1,4-비스(이미다졸-1-일메틸)벤젠을 각각 치환반응시켜서3가지 형태의 PVC 멤브레인, AEM-1, AEM-2, and AEM-3를 제조하였다. AEM-1, AEM-2, and AEM-3멤브레인의 성공적인 제조 여부를 이온전도도(S/cm), 물함수율 (%), 접촉각, 이온교환능력 (meq/g), 열분석, SEM 및 XPS 분석 통하여 확인하였다. 또한, 제조된 가교 음이온 PVC멤브레인을 사용하여 유기전해질에서 전기화학 캐퍼 시터 실험을 수행한 결과, 제조된 AEM-1, AEM-2 AEM-3 멤브레인의 경우 유기전해질에서 충/방전 실험결과 매우 안정적임을 확인 할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과로 치환반응 후에 용매 캐시팅법으로 제조 된 PVC기반 멤브레인 (AEM-1, AEM-2, 및 AEM-3)의 경우 유기전기화학캐퍼시터 (슈퍼캐퍼시터)용 분리막으로 사용될 수 있다.

Owing to its low cost, easy fabrication process, and good ionic properties, aqueous supercapacitors are under strong consideration as next-generation energy storage devices. However, the limitation of the current collector is its poor electrochemical stability, leading to low energy storage performance. Therefore, a reasonable design of the current collector and the acidic electrolyte is a necessary, as well as interfacial engineering to enhance the electrochemical performance. In the present study, graphite foil, with excellent electrochemical stability and good electrical properties, is suggested as a current collector of aqueous supercapacitors. This strategy results in excellent electrochemical performance, including a high specific capacitance of 215 F g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, a superior high-rate performance (104 F g−1 at a current density of 20.0 A g−1), and a remarkable cycling stability of 98 % at a current density of 10.0 A g−1 after 9,000 cycles. The superior energy storage performance is mainly ascribed to the improved ionic diffusion ability during cycling.

Activated carbons (ACs) were prepared by activation of coal tar pitch (CTP) in the range of 700°C-1000°C for 1-4 h using potassium hydroxide (KOH) powder as the activation agent. The optimal activation conditions were determined to be a CTP/KOH ratio of 1:4, activation temperature of 900°C, and activation time of 3 h. The obtained ACs showed increased pore size distribution in the range of 1 to 2 nm and the highest specific capacitance of 122 F/g in a two-electrode system with an organic electrolyte, as measured by a charge-discharge method in the voltage range of 0-2.7 V. In order to improve the performance of the electric double-layer capacitor electrode, various mixtures of CTP and petroleum pitch (PP) were activated at the optimal activation conditions previously determined for CTP. Although the specific capacitance of AC electrodes prepared from CTP only and the mixtures of CTP and PP was not significantly different at a current density of 1 A/g, the AC electrodes from CTP and PP mixtures showed outstanding specific capacitance at higher current rates. In particular, CTP-PP61 (6:1 mixture) had the highest specific capacitance of 132 F/g, and the specific capacitance remained above 90% at a high current density of 3 A/g. It was found that the high specific capacitance could be attributed to the increased micro-pore volume of ACs with pore sizes from 1 to 2 nm, and the high power density could be attributed to the increased meso-pore volume.

Well-distributed ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles decorated on porous carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized using an electrospinning method and a reduction method for use in high-performance elctrochemical capacitors. The formation mechanisms including structural, morphological, and chemical bonding properties are demonstrated by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To investigate the optimum amount of the Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs, we controlled three different weight ratios (0 wt%, 20 wt%, and 40 wt%) of the Ru nanoparticles on the porous CNFs. For the case of 20 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs, TEM results indicate that the Ru nanoparticles with ~2-4 nm size are uniformly distributed on the porous CNFs. In addition, 40 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs exhibit agglomerated Ru nanoparticles, which causes low performance of electrodes in electrochemical capacitors. Thus, proper distribution of 20 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs presents superior specific capacitance (~280.5 F/g at 10 mV/s) as compared to the 40 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs and the only porous CNFs. This enhancement can be attributed to the synergistic effects of well-distributed Ru nanoparticles and porous CNF supports having high surface area.