Effect of unequal load of carbon xerogel in electrodes on the electrochemical performance of asymmetric supercapacitors

This paper investigates the electrochemical performance of asymmetric supercapacitors in an environmentally friendly aqueous electrolyte (1.0 mol L−1 sodium sulfate solution). The asymmetric configuration is based on the use of a highly porous carbon xerogel as active material in both the positive and negative electrodes, but the carbon xerogel loading in each electrode has been substantially modified. This configuration leads to an increase in the operational voltage window up to values of 1.8 V and consequently to a higher specific capacitance (200 F g−1) and energy density (~25 Wh kg−1). Four different mass ratios were employed (1, 1.5, 2 and 3), and the electrochemical response of the cells was evaluated by means of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge and impedance spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the optimal carbon mass ratio in the electrodes is about 2.0 because in these conditions the devices are able to operate with a maximum cell voltage of 1.8 V and with a high electrical efficiency.