Self-Assembly\nof Monodisperse Starburst Carbon Spheres into Hierarchically Organized\nNanostructured Supercapacitor Electrodes

Abstract

We report a three-dimensional (3D)\nporous carbon electrode containing both nanoscale and microscale porosity,\nwhich has been hierarchically organized to provide efficient ion and\nelectron transport. The electrode organization is provided via the\ncolloidal self-assembly of monodisperse starburst carbon spheres (MSCSs).\nThe periodic close-packing of the MSCSs provides continuous pores\ninside the 3D structure that facilitate ion and electron transport\n(electrode electrical conductivity ∼0.35 S m^–1), and the internal meso- and micropores of the MSCS provide a good\nspecific capacitance. The capacitance of the 3D-ordered porous MSCS\nelectrode is ∼58 F g^–1 at 0.58 A g^–1, 48% larger than that of disordered MSCS electrode at the same rate.\nAt 1 A g^–1 the capacitance of the ordered electrode\nis 57 F g^–1 (95% of the 0.24 A g^–1 value), which is 64% greater than the capacitance of the disordered\nelectrode at the same rate. The ordered electrode preserves 95% of\nits initial capacitance after 4000 charging/discharging cycles.