Improvement of capacitance value as the electrode of an electrochemical capacitor by mixing starch with guanidine phosphate

Starch or starch mixed with phosphoric acid, guanidine carbonate, or guanidine phosphate is heat-treated for use as an electrode in an electrochemical capacitor. In the case of starch, the capacitance value is low (31.2 F g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1)). However, the capacitance value significantly increases with the addition of guanidine phosphate, which can act as a flame-retardant (124.1 F g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1)). The method used in this study, which involves mixing with a flame-retardant by immersion, should be a promising candidate for improving of the capacitance value of starch-derived carbon. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.