Unveiling the Influence of Graphitic Nanocarbon Structures, Defects, and Surface Functional Groups on Supercapacitive Performance in LiTFSI Electrolyte

Abstract

When investigating the performance of supercapacitors (SCs), it was found that they offer high-power density and long life but are limited in capacity and energy density. Water-in-salt electrolytes, i.e., 21___m lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI), offer a solution by expanding the electrochemical window compared to a diluted aqueous environment. While significant research has been dedicated to improving these electrolytes, the impact of carbon properties on energy storage remains relatively underexplored. This study investigated the influence of carbon structures, defects, and surface functional groups on supercapacitive performance in LiTFSI electrolytes. For this purpose, a series of carbon materials, including carbon nano-onions and porous conductive carbon black (ENSACO), were synthesized and systematically modified by oxidative and reductive thermal treatments. Our results indicated that higher specific surface area and active surface area improve the ion adsorption and capacitance, while specific oxygen functionalities, such as carboxylic and anhydride groups, were found to significantly enhance capacitance. Furthermore, crystallinity and graphitic characteristics play a role in capacitance, with smaller graphene domains and greater disorder promoting ion storage. The study demonstrates a direct correlation between carbon microstructure and electrochemical behavior, providing insights into the rational design of carbon electrodes in high-performance SCs.