The “In situ electrolyte” as a sustainable alternative for the realization of high‐power devices

Abstract

AbstractThe “in situ electrolyte” displays a concept for electric double‐layer‐ as well as metal‐ion capacitors in which the by‐products formed during carbon synthesis serve directly as electrolyte salt to minimize waste. In this work, the concept is applied for lithium‐ and sodium‐based systems realizing EDLCs containing aqueous, “Water in Salt” (up to 1.8 V) as well as organic (2.4 V) electrolytes. Via the mechanochemical synthesis, carbon materials with surface areas up to 2000 m2 g−1 and an optimal amount of remaining by‐product are designed from the renewable resource lignin. Different cation‐anion combinations are enabled by further modification directly inside the pores creating imide‐based salts which are tracked by synchrotron in situ XRD. By the addition of solvents, the EDLCs show good capacitances up to 21 F g−1 combined with excellent rate performances and stabilities. Moreover, the LiTFSI loaded carbon as positive electrode introduces a new tunable lithium alternative for the pre‐lithiation of Li‐ion capacitors displaying a good rate performance and cyclability.