Synthesis of\nPolynorbornadiene within the Pores of\nActivated Carbons: Effects on EDLC and Hydrogen Adsorption Performances

Abstract

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