Hydrous RuO[sub 2]/Carbon Black Nanocomposites with 3D Porous Structure by Novel Incipient Wetness Method for Supercapacitors

For supercapacitor electrode material, hydrous /carbon black nanocomposites were prepared by the novel incipient wetness method using a fumed silica nanoparticle. First, hydrous /fumed silica/Ketjen black (KB) was synthesized by the sol-gel-based method. After dissolving the fumed silica, the hydrous nanocomposite, which is composed of nanoparticles dispersed on the high-surface-area KB , was formed with 3D porous structure at high loading of (Ru content is ). The hydrous nanocomposite electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of with high charge utilization of (72%), which is significantly higher than reported values by other workers at similar loading of . The high capacitance and the high charge utilization were probably due to enhanced proton paths within the 3D porous structure of the nanocomposite materials.