Porous Carbon Materials for Electrochemical Applications

The increasing demand for energy storage leads to a high interest in battery technologies. Batteries with high specific performance, sufficient cycle stability, wide operating temperature range, light weight, high safety, and low cost are currently the subject of global research activities. The DLR & UBC collaboration benefits from high expertise of both partners and is working onadvancing the development of next-generation batteries based on aerogel materials with carbon additives.

The electrical conductivity of powdered carbon materials is one of the key factors for electrochemical applications. The study presents synthesis, characterization, and the correlation between structural, physical, mechanical and electrical properties of pure carbon aerogels, as well as aerogel composites. The influence of carbon feedstock activation on the properties of carbon aerogels, in particular on electrical conductivity, is shown. Additionally, the impact of adjusting the electrical conductivity of several aerogel-composites and their suitability as conductive additives in Li-ion batteries is explored.