Abstract: Enhanced methods for preparing activated carbons have been discovered. In order to form an activated carbon, a carbon precursor material is coated with a phosphorus based chemical solution and physically activated. An activated carbon may also be formed by coating a green carbon precursor with a chemical solution that chemically reacts with carbon, carbonizing the resulting material, and physically activating the material during at least a portion of the carbonizing step. An activated carbon may also be formed by milling a carbon material to a predetermined particle size, then activating the milled particles. In another enhancement, an activated carbon is formed by coating a carbon or carbon precursor with nanoparticles, carbonizing if the carbon is a carbon precursor, then catalytically activating in air and an inert gas, and physically activating in steam or carbon dioxide. An activated carbon may also be formed by physically activating a previously chemically activated carbon.

Abstract: Fibrous materials composed of activated carbon fibers and methods for their preparation are described. Electrodes comprising the fibrous materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: Catalytically activated carbon fibers and methods for their preparation are described. The activated carbon fibers are engineered to have a controlled porosity distribution that is readily optimized for specific applications using metal-containing nanoparticles as activation catalysts. The activated carbon fibers may be used in all manner of devices that contain carbon materials, including but not limited to various electrochemical devices (e.g., capacitors, batteries, fuel cells, and the like), hydrogen storage devices, filtration devices, catalytic substrates, and the like.