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The extraordinary stability and cycle life performance of today's electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are generally ascribed to the fact that charge storage in activated carbon (AC) is based on pure double-layer charging. In contrast, Faradaic charge-transfer reactions like those occurring in batteries are often connected with dimensional changes, which can affect the cycle life of these storage devices. Here we report the charge-induced height change of an AC electrode in an aprotic electrolyte solution, 1mol/l (C2H5)4NBF4 (TEABF4) in acetonitrile. The results are compared with those obtained for a graphite electrode in the same electrolyte. For both electrodes, we observe an expansion/contraction of several percent for a potential window of ±2V vs. the immersion potential (ip). For the EDLC electrode, significant expansion starts at about 1V remote from the ip and hence is well within the normal EDLC operation range. For the graphite electrode, the height changes are unambiguously caused by intercalation/deintercalation of both anions and cations. The close analogies between the graphite and the EDLC electrode suggest that ion intercalation or insertion processes might play a major role for charge storage, self discharge, cyclability, and the voltage limitation of EDLCs

Asymmetric tetraalkylammonium salts of azolylborates were synthesized and studied with respect to their suitability as supporting electrolytes in electrochemical double layer capacitors. In contrast to current conducting salts used in this device, azolylborates exhibit an excellent stability towards thermal load and moisture. In addition to good conductivity and stability towards cathodic reduction we found certain limitations when more positive potentials were applied

A study based on a total of 41 nanoporous carbons shows that there exists a good correlation between the limiting gravimetric capacitances Co at low current densities j (1 mA cm −2 ) measured in aprotic (1 M (C2H5)4NBF4 in acetonitrile) and in acidic (2 M aqueous H2SO4) electrolytes. The comparison of the surface-related capacitances (F m −2 ) of well characterized samples with the amount of thermodesorbed CO suggests a strong contribution of CO generating surface groups to charge storage in the acidic electrolyte, but a negligible contribution in the aprotic medium. It also appears that the decrease of the capacitance with current density is similar in both electrolytes. This confirms that the average micropore width and the CO2 generating surface groups are the main factors which limit the ionic mobility in both electrolytes.

A study based on a total of 41 nanoporous carbons shows that there exists a good correlation between the limiting gravimetric capacitances Co at low current densities j (1 mA cm−2) measured in aprotic (1 M (C2H5)4 NBF4 in acetonitrile) and in acidic (2 M aqueous H2SO4) electrolytes. The comparison of the surface-related capacitances (F m−2) of well characterized samples with the amount of thermodesorbed CO suggests a strong contribution of CO generating surface groups to charge storage in the acidic electrolyte, but a negligible contribution in the aprotic medium. It also appears that the decrease of the capacitance with current density is similar in both electrolytes. This confirms that the average micropore width and the CO2 generating surface groups are the main factors which limit the ionic mobility in both electrolytes.