Electrochemical role of oxygen containing functional groups on activated carbon electrode

Abstract

We have experimentally and theoretically clarified the effect of oxygen functional groups on the capacitive performance of a photochemically treated activated carbon electrode. A high density of C=O groups at the mouth of the micropores, where the chemically active edge sites are predominantly available, increases the energy barrier for ions to enter the pores, thereby resulting in a large decrease in the specific capacitance.