Carbons useful in energy storage devices

• US 20060093915A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric G. Lundquist, Garth R. Parker
• Original Assignee: Eric G. Lundquist, Garth R. Parker
• Inventors: Lundquist, Eric G., Parker, Garth R.
• Application Number:
  US11/244,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20060093915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.8
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/336 characterised by gaseous activating agents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/342 characterised by non-gaseous activating agents
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/22 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/24 characterised by structural features of the materials making up or comprised in the electrodes, e.g. form, surface area or porosity; characterised by the structural features of powders or particles used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/34 characterised by carbonisation or activation of carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/44 Raw materials therefor, e.g. resins or coal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/133 Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1393 of electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/583 Carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/96 Carbon-based electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

Carbons that are economically produced from carbon precursor selected from naturally occurring carbohydrate, pitch derived from coal tar, pitch derived from petroleum and combinations thereof, are provided. Also provided are processes for making such carbons and the use of such carbons in the formation of electrode structures for use in (i) energy storage applications such as batteries, fuel cells and electric double layer capacitors and (ii) capacitive water deionization applications.

Claims

1. A carbon material, wherein the carbon material is derived from a carbon precursor selected from naturally occurring carbohydrate, pitch derived from coal tar, pitch derived from petroleum and combinations thereof, wherein the carbon material contains greater than 1.0 wt % elemental nitrogen and wherein the carbon material exhibits a surface area greater than 1,500 m²/g.

2. The carbon material of claim 1, wherein the carbon material exhibits a pore volume of less than 2 cm³/g and exhibits a pore size distribution with at least one peak between 0.1 and 50 nm.

3. An electrode comprising a carbon material according to claim 1.

4. An ultracapacitor comprising an electrode according to claim 3.

5. A battery comprising an electrode according to claim 3.

6. An energy storage device comprising an electrode according to claim 3, wherein the energy storage device exhibits an operating voltage greater than 2.5 volts.

7. Use of an energy storage device according to claim 6 in a system selected from an automobile, power quality, engine starting, energy storage in photovoltaic, energy storage in windmills, medical system, mobile propulsion system, military electronics, transportation system, commercial electronics, consumer electronics, portable electronics, audio system and consumer appliance.

8. A method for producing a carbon material from a carbon precursor selected from naturally occurring carbohydrate, pitch derived from coal tar, pitch derived from petroleum and combinations thereof, comprising adding nitrogen functionality to the carbon precursor, wherein the carbon material contains greater than 1.0 wt % elemental nitrogen and wherein the carbon material exhibits a surface area greater than 1,500 m²/g.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the carbon precursor is a naturally occurring carbohydrate and wherein the method further comprises at least two of the following:

a) dehydrating the carbon precursor;

b) pyrolyzing the carbon precursor; and

,

c) activating the carbon precursor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the carbon material has oxygen containing functional groups and wherein the method further comprises silylating the oxygen containing functional groups.