Synthesis of boron/nitrogen substituted carbons for aqueous asymmetric capacitors

Highlights: → Synthesis of highly substituted boron and nitrogen containing carbons (BCN) for ultracapacitor applications. → Evidence for strong electroadsorption of protons on BCN. → Increased specific capacitance per unit area and improved cell voltage in aqueous asymmetric capacitors. - Abstract: Boron/nitrogen substituted carbons were synthesized by co-pyrolysis of polyborazylene/coal tar pitch blends to yield a carbon with a boron and nitrogen content of 14 at% and 10 at%, respectively. The presence of heteroatoms in these carbons shifted the hydrogen evolution overpotential to -1.4 V vs Ag/AgCl in aqueous electrolytes, providing a large electrochemical potential window (∼2.4 V) as well as a specific capacitance of 0.6 F/m2. An asymmetric capacitor was fabricated using the as-prepared low surface area carbon as the negative electrode along with a redox active manganese dioxide as the positive electrode. The energy density of the capacitor exceeded 10 Wh/kg at a power density of 1 kW/kg and had a cycle life greater than 1000 cycles.