Preparation and performance of nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels as electrode materials

Nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels (NCAs) were synthesized from melamine, resorcinol and formaldehyde by sol-gel, supercritical drying and high-temperature carbonization process. The structure properties and function of the NCAs were characterized by means of XPS, SEM and nitrogen adsorption, showing that the nitrogen was successfully doped into carbon aerogels. Meanwhile, the N-doping content and the microstructures of the NCAs distinctly depend on the amount of melamine. Besides, the electrochemical performances of the NCAs were tested by galvanostatic charge-discharge and cyclic voltammetry in 6 mol/L KOH solution, and the results indicate that their electrochemical performances are greatly improved after N-doping with the highest specific capacitance reaching 176 Fg-1.