Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon of extraordinary capacitance for electrochemical energy storage

TLDR

Capacitors store less energy than batteries but can charge and discharge rapidly, and nitrogen doping can improve their storage capacity. The authors fabricated a porous carbon material and doped it with nitrogen. Nitrogen doping increased the carbon’s energy density by over threefold, a gain that persisted in full capacitors without compromising power delivery. Lin et al., Science, this issue p.

Abstract

Store more energy with a touch of nitrogen In contrast to batteries, capacitors typically can store less power, but they can capture and release that power much more quickly. Lin et al. fabricated a porous carbon material that was then doped with nitrogen. This raised the energy density of the carbon more than threefold—an increase that was retained in full capacitors, without losing their ability to deliver power quickly. Science , this issue p. 1508