Preparation and electrochemical performance of monolithic C_m RF carbon aerogels

Carbon aerogel was synthesized via a sol-gel process from the polycondensation of cresol and resorcinol with formaldehyde catalyzed by NaOH, followed by drying at ambient pressure and pyrolysis at 900℃ (under) inert atmosphere. Results show that this carbon aerogel has a BET surface area higher than (500m~2/g) and a fairly uniform pore size distribution in the range of 8-20nm. The electrochemical behavior of such a carbon (aerogel) used as electrode material for an electrical double-layer capacitor was investigated by impedance spectroscopy. It is found that this carbon aerogel exhibits nearly ideal double-layer capacitance characteristics. The (volume) specific capacitance and the mass specific capacitance in 1mol/L sulfur acid solution can reach as high as 70F/cm~3 and 97F/g.