Preparation of activated carbon spheres and their electrochemical properties as supercapacitor electrode

The carbon spheres (CSs) synthesized by an ultrasonic-spray pyrolysis method were activated for supercapacitor electrode. There are plenty of cracks on the surface of the activated carbon spheres (ACSs), which expend with increasing the activation temperature and activator dosage. The specific capacitance of ACSs increases with the activation temperature and activator dosage and reach to maximal value at certain conditions. Importantly, the ACS sample activated at relatively low activation temperature (600 degrees C) and 7 of mass ratio of KOH to CSs has the highest specific capacitance (about 209 F g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1) of current density) and indicates the excellent cycling stability after 1000 consecutive charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, the graphene sheets could be found in the samples that were activated at 1000 degrees C. And the electrode prepared by the sample has the very low series resistance because of the excellent conductivity of the formed graphene sheets.