Study on the pore structure regulation and electrochemical performance of porous carbons derived from different phenolic resin systems

Promising as electrode materials for supercapacitors, porous carbon materials exhibit high stability, adjustable pore structures, and excellent electrical conductivity. In this work, a series of porous carbons were prepared from different phenolic resin systems using phenol and resorcinol as phenolic sources and F127 as a pore-forming agent. The influence of the phenolic source and the formaldehyde to phenolic source molar ratio on the pore structure and electrochemical characteristics of the resultant carbons was thoroughly examined. Findings indicated that samples based on phenol had more advanced pore structures compared to those derived from resorcinol. Of all the examined samples, FB-1-3 demonstrated the most favorable textural properties, achieving a specific surface area of 448.43 m² g⁻¹, a pore volume of 0.31 cm³ g⁻¹, and an average pore diameter of 2.81 nm. Results from electrochemical testing showed that FB-1-3 also had the largest cyclic voltammetry (CV) area, the longest charge-discharge duration, enhanced rate performance, and reduced impedance, reflecting its superior overall capacitive performance. The improved performance was primarily due to its optimized pore configuration, which offered a plentiful ion-accessible surface area and effective pathways for ion transport. This study presents a practical approach for customizing the pore structure of carbons derived from phenolic resin specifically for applications in supercapacitors.