Applications of nanotextured carbons for supercapacitors and hydrogen storage

Application of nanotextured carbons for supercapacitors and hydrogen storage 

Research Center on Divided Matter, CNRS-University, IB rue de la Fdrollerie, 45071 OrMans Cedex, France 

Various configurations of fuel cells are considered, either with on-board reforming of a fossil fuel to produce hydrogen, or with hydrogen stored in a tank under various forms liquid, compressed, adsorbed or absorbed in a material [2], None of the possible solutions seems to be ideal and they are all subjected to very critical studies. 

In this context, nanoporous carbons are extremely interesting materials which can be used either as electrodes of supercapacitors or hydrogen reservoir. They are commercially available at a low cost and under various forms (powder, fibers, foams, fabrics, composites) [3]. They can be obtained with well-developed and controlled porosity [4,5] and with a rich surface functionality [6,7], As far as electrochemistry applications are concerned, very important advantages of carbons are a high electrical conductivity, a good chemical stability in various electrolytic media and the possibility to control wettability by the nature of the surface functionality. When they are not playing the role of active material for the storage process, carbons may be also useful as additive in a composite to improve its physical properties. Particularly carbon nanotubes are able to improve the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of electrodes [8], 

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Application of Nanotextured Carbons for Supercapacitors and Hydrogen Storage... 

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