Synthesis of Polynorbornadiene within the Pores of Activated Carbons: Effects on EDLC and Hydrogen Adsorption Performances

Abstract

Norbornadiene (NBD) is adsorbed on activated carbon (AC), and the adsorbed NBD is polymerized within the pores of AC. Two kinds of ACs─AC-2 with only micropores of ∼2 nm and AC-4 with not only micropores but also mesopores below 4 nm─are examined to study the effects of the hybridized polynorbornadiene (PNBD) on the electric double-layer capacitor and hydrogen adsorption performance. Various measurements are performed to determine the form of the hybridized PNBD inside the pores of AC. Scanning and transmittance electron microscopy observations of the AC/PNBD hybrids confirm that PNBD is hybridized inside the pores of AC, and there is little PNBD on the surface of AC particles. The nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurement for the hybrids of AC-4 reveals that PNBD is not hybridized preferentially inside micropores rather than mesopores irrespective of the amount of PNBD. In addition, both micropore and mesopore volumes decrease at a constant rate with increasing amounts of PNBD. These results suggest that PNBD is hybridized not as a layer but as an agglomerate for both ACs, and the agglomerate delocalizes over the whole AC pores, which is supported by the results of electrochemical measurements and hydrogen adsorption behavior of the hybrids.