Structural tuneability and electrochemical energy storage applications of resorcinol-formaldehyde-based carbon aerogels

Extensive use of carbon-based materials has revolutionised the number of modern scientific areas such as transportation, electronic, material chemistry and electrochemical energy storage, mainly due to their outstanding characteristics such as excellent conductivity, mechanical strength, ease of availability and cost-effectiveness. However, it is difficult to fine-tune the physiochemical characteristics of naturally occurring carbonaceous materials according to desired applications. High purity carbon aerogels with control over porous structure prepared using synthetic chemistry techniques such as polymerisation can be a potential substitute carbon material due to their outstanding characteristics including superior conductivity, high level of porosity and chemical inertness. Designing tailored polymeric carbon materials according to their anticipated uses is advantageous and can be achieved by altering various synthesis parameters at the initial stages of preparation. This not only helps in fine tuning porous structure of carbon aerogels but can also assist in producing composite materials by introducing materials on the surface or within the bulk of produced carbons.