High-Mass-Loading Electrodes Prepared by Carbonizing P-Phenylenediamine-Modified Polyaniline Nanofibers

In this study, N-doped carbon nanofibers were prepared by carbonization using p-phenylenediamine (PPD)-modified polyaniline nanofibers as precursors. The effects of PPD dosage, carbonization temperature, and potassium hydroxide (KOH) dosage on the performance of carbonized products were investigated in detail. The uniformity of the carbon nanofiber networks improved considerably using 2% PPD. Consequently, the specific capacitance of the carbon nanofibers at 0.5 A/g was enhanced by 42.5%. In addition, KOH activation increased the specific capacitance of the carbonized product to 273.3 F/g at 0.5 A/g. The product exhibited a lifespan of up to 4500 cycles with 87.2% retention. Remarkably, when the mass loading was increased to 16 mg/cm2, the product still possessed a high specific capacitance of 254 F/g at 0.5 A/g.