The electrochemical properties of templated and activated mesoporous carbons produced from coal pitch

Mesoporous carbons (MCs) were made from coal pitch derived from coal liquefaction residue with silica nanoparticles as template and CO₂ as activation agent. The microstructure and electrochemical properties of the MCs were investigated with TEM, N₂ adsorption, an electrochemical workstation and a Land battery test system. Results show that the specific surface area increases with activation time at 900℃ under a CO₂ flow rate of 100mL · min^-1. The specific surface area of MC activated for 150min is 1360m² · g^-1 while that of the un-activated one is 722m² · g^-1. The specific capacitance of the MC activated for 150min is 135F · g^-1 at a current density of 1000mA · g^-1 and the decrease in its specific capacitance is 7% after being charged and discharged 10000 times.