Ultrasonicated double wall carbon nanotubes for enhanced electric double layer capacitance

Abstract

An intense ultrasonication of the double wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) causes fractures and splitting of the individual tubes. This not only generates open tips and edges in DWCNTs but also incorporates defects in the tube walls. The electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) electrodes of intensively ultrasonicated DWCNTs (U-DWCNTs) form organized layered-porous structures. The EDLC behavior of U-DWCNTs electrodes shows dramatic improvements (specific capacitance 10 times and 222 times larger than the pristine DWCNTs at scan rates 5 mV s(-1) and 500 mV s(-1), respectively) due to the increased wettability of electrodes and accessibility of the electrolyte ions.