Characterization and production of carbon aerogel

Carbon aerogels can be used in various different study areas thanks to their features such as high pore size, high porosity, its easily controlled porosity structure, low electric resistance, high electrical conductivity, and its thermal and mechanic aspects. Because of the easily controlled pore structure of the carbon aerogels, many researchers conduct investigations both on the production of carbon aerogels and its area of usage.In this study, proportions of the Resorcinol/Formaldehyde, Resorcinol/Water, and Resorcinol/Catalyst had been continuously changed and then with the sol-gel technic, aerogels were synthesized. Then, aerogels were obtained by drying aquagels with CO2 under supercritical conditions. A carbon aerogel is produced with the pyrolyz of the obtained aerogel and N2.In order to raise the pore size at the pyrolyz stage aerogels were made activated with CO2 at different temperatures and intervals. In order to realize this CO2 is supplied at different intervals. Then, it is found out that the best activation realizes when it is pyrolyzed with nitrogen during 7 hour 20 minutes, and then activated with CO2 during 40 minutes. Under these conditions the pore size of the aerogels is found as 1112 m2/g. Under supercritical condition the drying interval of the aerogels requires a long period. In order to reduce the supercritical condition period, instead of realizing the drying procedure just with CO2, the drying was made with a mixture of CO2 and ethanol. Therefore, owing to this, drying phase was diminished considerably.Carbon aerogels not only have a high pore size but they are also good conductors. In this study, super capacitor features of carbon aerogel have been researched. On account of this, Ni solution was added both at the sol and gel phases. At the sol phase, it was observed that the sample to which Ni solution is added, there was a gelation. Electrodes were made from produced carbon aerogel and commercial carbon aerogel. Electrochemical features of this produced electrode were measured with trial electrode mechanism.Electrochemical performance of the electrodes that were obtained from Carbon aerogel is determined with the help of cycling voltamogram. When cycling voltamogram is considered as basis, the highest specific capacitance value is 10 mV/s speed and 0.8~ ?1.2 V potential distances, 2.468 F/g. This shows the carbon aerogel to which there was an addition of Ni solution at the gel phase.Key Words : Porosity material, carbon aerogel, super capacitor