Abstract: A method is described to make a metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material that is synthesized from furan-ring containing compounds. The metals described in the process include lithium and transition metals, including transition metal oxides like lithium titanates. The non-amorphous hard-carbon component of the metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material is characterized by a d002 peak—in the X-ray diffraction patterns—that corresponds to an interlayer spacing of >3.6 ?, along with a prominent D-band peak in the Raman spectra. These metal-containing hard-carbon composites are used for constructing electrodes for Li-ion batteries and Li-ion capacitors.

Abstract: A method is described to make a metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material that is synthesized from furan-ring containing compounds. The metals described in the process include lithium and transition metals, including transition metal oxides like lithium titanates. The non-amorphous hard-carbon component of the metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material is characterized by a d002 peak—in the X-ray diffraction patterns—that corresponds to an interlayer spacing of >3.6 ?, along with a prominent D-band peak in the Raman spectra. These metal-containing hard-carbon composites are used for constructing electrodes for Li-ion batteries and Li-ion capacitors.

Abstract: A method is described to make a metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material that is synthesized from furan-ring containing compounds. The metals described in the process include lithium and transition metals, including transition metal oxides like lithium titanates. The non-amorphous hard-carbon component of the metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material is characterized by a d002 peak—in the X-ray diffraction patterns—that corresponds to an interlayer spacing of >3.6 ?, along with a prominent D-band peak in the Raman spectra. These metal-containing hard-carbon composites are used for constructing electrodes for Li-ion batteries and Li-ion capacitors.

Abstract: A non-amorphous hard carbon material, synthesized from Furan-ring containing compounds, is described. These non-amorphous hard carbon materials have a d002 peak in their X-ray diffraction patterns, corresponding to an interlayer spacing of >3.6 ?, along with a prominent D-band peak in their Raman spectra. BET surface area values between 2 m2/gm and around 100 m2/gm can be obtained by controlling the processing parameters of temperature, time and heating rate. The higher surface area HCs—in Li-ion and Na-ion anode configurations—are capable of high charging rates up to 100 C with a cycle life of up to 1000 cycles. Composites of these non-amorphous hard carbons with silicon and lithium compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making heteroatom-doped activated carbon is described in this application. Specifically, it describes a process that utilizes liquid furfuryl-functional-group compounds as starting materials, which are then used to dissolve the heteroatom containing source compounds, before being polymerized into solids using catalysts. The polymerized solids are then carbonized and activated to make the heteroatom-doped activated carbon. Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) were fabricated with activated carbons doped with boron and nitrogen, and tested for performance. Also, the boron and nitrogen content in the activated carbons was confirmed by chemical analysis.

Abstract: A non-amorphous hard carbon material, synthesized from Furan-ring containing compounds, is described. These non-amorphous hard carbon materials have a d002 peak in their X-ray diffraction patterns, corresponding to an interlayer spacing of >3.6 ?, along with a prominent D-band peak in their Raman spectra. BET surface area values between 2 m2/gm and around 100 m2/gm can be obtained by controlling the processing parameters of temperature, time and heating rate. The higher surface area HCs—in Li-ion and Na-ion anode configurations—are capable of high charging rates up to 100C with a cycle life of up to 100C cycles. Composites of these non-amorphous hard carbons with silicon and lithium compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described to make a chemically activated carbon by first immersing a suitable carbonized material into a neutral aqueous solution of inorganic salts that constitutes the chemical activating agent. The carbonized material is then removed and forms a chemically loaded activatable material that is separately heated at temperatures up to 1000° C. to form the chemically activated carbon. An additional CO2 or steam activation step is implemented to increase the surface area up to ˜3000 m2/gm. The chemical activating agents are nitrate salts in aqueous solutions, and may be reused since they are not directly heated as part of the activation process. The carbonized precursor materials include naturally occurring sources of carbon, synthetic polymeric materials and petroleum based sources.

Abstract: An activated nano-porous carbon is produced using a liquid organic compound as a starting material. A combination of the liquid organic compound with organic acids is mixed with conductive carbon powder and polymerized. The polymerized material is then carbonized and activated using physical or chemical methods. The activated nano-porous carbon obtained using this method has been used to fabricate EDLC devices. The carbon has also shown large surface area (up to ˜2000 m2/gm, depending on the degree of activation) and can be used for various other activated carbon applications.

Abstract: The present patent application discloses a method of producing nano-porous carbon, comprising mixing furfuryl alcohol or its fast-polymerizing derivatives with an aluminum-based solid polymerization catalyst, heating the mixture until a solid catalyst-carbon matrix forms, heating again under inert atmosphere and etching the powder to remove the matrix to produce a network of pores in the nano-porous carbon. The application further provides a method for making of fabricating tailor-made nano-porous carbon electrodes.

Abstract: The present patent application discloses a method of producing nano-porous carbon, comprising mixing furfuryl alcohol or its fast-polymerizing derivatives with an aluminum-based solid polymerization catalyst, heating the mixture until a solid catalyst-carbon matrix forms, heating again under inert atmosphere and etching the powder to remove the matrix to produce a network of pores in the nano-porous carbon. The application further provides a method for making of fabricating tailor-made nano-porous carbon electrodes.

Abstract: A method of making heteroatom-doped activated carbon is described in this application. Specifically, it describes a process that utilizes liquid furfuryl-functional-group compounds as starting materials, which are then used to dissolve the heteroatom containing source compounds, before being polymerized into solids using catalysts. The polymerized solids are then carbonized and activated to make the heteroatom-doped activated carbon. Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) were fabricated with activated carbons doped with boron and nitrogen, and tested for performance. Also, the boron and nitrogen content in the activated carbons was confirmed by chemical analysis.

Abstract: The present patent application discloses a method of producing nano-porous carbon, comprising mixing furfuryl alcohol or its fast-polymerizing derivatives with an aluminum-based solid polymerization catalyst, heating the mixture until a solid catalyst-carbon matrix forms, heating again under inert atmosphere and etching the powder to remove the matrix to produce a network of pores in the nano-porous carbon. The application further provides a method for making of fabricating tailor-made nano-porous carbon electrodes.

Abstract: A method is described to make a chemically activated carbon by first immersing a suitable carbonized material into a neutral aqueous solution of inorganic salts that constitutes the chemical activating agent. The carbonized material is then removed and forms a chemically loaded activatable material that is separately heated at temperatures up to 1000° C. to form the chemically activated carbon. An additional CO2 or steam activation step is implemented to increase the surface area up to ˜3000 m2/gm. The chemical activating agents are nitrate salts in aqueous solutions, and may be reused since they are not directly heated as part of the activation process. The carbonized precursor materials include naturally occurring sources of carbon, synthetic polymeric materials and petroleum based sources.

Abstract: An activated nano-porous carbon is produced using a liquid organic compound as a starting material. A combination of the liquid organic compound with organic acids is mixed with conductive carbon powder and polymerized. The polymerized material is then carbonized and activated using physical or chemical methods. The activated nano-porous carbon obtained using this method has been used to fabricate EDLC devices. The carbon has also shown large surface area (up to ˜2000 m2/gm, depending on the degree of activation) and can be used for various other activated carbon applications.

Abstract: The present patent application discloses a novel sol-gel process to synthesize a nano-porous solid carbon material—suitable for use in electrodes in energy storage applications—from a combination of liquid reagents that undergo a polymerization reaction to form a matrix.