Activation of raw pitch coke with alkali hydroxide to prepare high performance carbon for electric double layer capacitor

Powder of raw pitch coke was activated with alkali hydroxides at 500–900 °C to prepare carbon electrode of high capacitance for electric double layer capacitor (EDLC). KOH provided very high surface area of 2320 m2/g at 800 °C, while NaOH did moderate surface area of 1000 m2/g at 650–750 °C. High surface area provided by KOH led to a high capacitance per weight of 39 F/g. However, its capacitance per volume was as low as 16 F/ml. Although the coke of moderate surface area activated with NaOH showed a similar capacitance per weight, its capacity per volume was as high as 28 F/ml because of its high density. Adequate porosity must be selectively introduced by NaOH activation to the coke to obtain moderate surface area. Much smaller expansion of layers in the present needle type coke activated by NaOH than that by KOH is indicative for the higher density of the former activated coke.