Structure Control of Polystyrene Resin-Based Carbon Microspheres as Electrode Materials and Its Supercapacitor Performance

Polystyrene resin-based carbon microspheres (PCS) were synthesized through suspension polymerization method and followed by heat treatment using styrene and divinylbenzene as raw materials, paraffin wax as pore-forming agent, respectively. The as-prepared PCS were used as the electrode material for a double-layer supercapacitor, and its pore structure, surface morphologies, and chemical properties were analyzed. The results showed that, when paraffin wax of 30% was added to the raw material system, PCS-30% gave a large specific surface area of 2589 m²/g, with a micropore surface area of 2328 m²/g. When used as the electrode material for a double-layer supercapacitor, the obtained electrode material in the organic electrolyte of Et₄NBF₄-PC exhibited a high specific capacitance of 106.4 F/g and energy density of 22.1 W·h/kg at a current density of 0.1 A/g.