Active Carbon Modified by Rhenium Species as a Perspective Supercapacitor Electrode

Abstract

We have reported the synthesis of a new kind of composite combining a rhenium precursor and active carbon. Similarly to other refractory metals, rhenium exhibits several oxidation states that makes it an ideal candidate for redox-type energy storage materials. A simple impregnation of pretreated active carbon with ammonium perrhenate allowed to produce an electrode material with an enhanced specific capacitance. There was not any observed detrimental effect of metal species on the cycle life of the electrode. A small increase in charge transfer resistance was counter-balanced by the improved impedance in the whole examined range.