Three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon derived from resorcinol formaldehyde-zinc tatrate/poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) for high performance supercapacitor electrode.

• IPN of resorcinol formaldehyde-zinc tartrate and poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) (RF-Zn/PSMA) was prepared. • Three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon (THPC) was firstly carbonized from IPN of RF-Zn/PSMA. • Specific surface area and pore structure of carbon can be tuned by controlling the synthesis process of IPN. • THPC exhibited a high specific capacitance, energy outputs and long cycle life. [Display omitted] Herein, we propose a three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon (THPC) derived from interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of resorcinol formaldehyde-zinc tartrate and poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) (RF-Zn/PSMA), which was prepared via a gel swelling method. The three-dimensional hierarchical and interconnected pore structure involving micro-, meso- and macropores benefits from the synergistic pore-forming effect of PSMA pyrolysis and zinc tartrate decomposition during carbonization process. A high specific surface area of 742 m2 g−1 together with a cheese-like morphology was found for obtained THPC, exhibiting a high specific capacitance of 235 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in 6 M KOH. THPC assembled symmetrical supercapacitor using 6 M KOH and 1 M Na 2 SO 4 as electrolytes deliver energy outputs of 6.47 and 15.3 Wh kg−1 at 100 and 180 W kg−1, respectively. More attractively, the assembled supercapacitor based on the THPC achieves a high energy outputs of 50.45 Wh kg−1 at 350 W kg−1 in EMIMBF 4 under wide potential window of 3.5 V, indicating its practical application prospect. Our findings open up new playgrounds for the design and electrochemical application of hierarchical porous carbon using IPNs as precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]