Effect of carbon enrichment in polymer-derived ceramers on the electrochemical characteristics of their derived carbons

Abstract

AbstractThe synthesis of C-rich ceramers from a commercial polycarbosilane has been realized through the incorporation of divinylbenzene (DVB) to the polymer SMP-10. After pyrolysis, the obtained ceramers were dry etched to produce highly porous carbide-derived carbons (CDCs). The excess carbon was segregated in the form of amorphous carbon out from the ceramer matrix. The resulting CDCs possess a carbon nanocrystallite size which turns to be independent on the DVB incorporated or the pyrolysis and chlorination temperature. The electrochemical characterization reveals that the consolidation of the ceramer or ceramic network leads to a reduction of the carbon heterogeneities, thus improving its electric conductivity. When the ceramic network is formed, the behavior of the CDC as electrode supercapacitor is optimized and turns to be independent on the amount of DVB incorporated. Graphical Abstract