Capacitive Graphite Electrode on Anodized Aluminum with a High Voltage Window

A capacitor electrode has been developed, obtained by electrophoretically filling the nanosized pores of anodic alumina with carbon particles and PVDF. By pre-thinning the barrier anode layer, direct contact of carbon with the aluminum current collector has been achieved. The multilayer electrode from {carbon particles and PVDF}/{carbon black and porous AAO}/{aluminum current collector} was studied using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and atomic force microscopy. The analyses demonstrate the highly developed surface of the electrodes and the good binding ability of the PVDF. The electrochemical properties of the electrodes were investigated in a 0.5 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge–discharge. The electrode allows operation at a high voltage window of 5.75 V. The electrochemical results show that the electrodes have a specific capacitance of 4.25 ± 0.35 F g−1, a specific energy density of 19.3 Wh kg−1 and specific power of about 5600 W kg−1 with stable operation over 10,000 cycles. Therefore, the strategy of using electrophoretic deposition of carbon materials seems promising for obtaining inexpensive capacitive layers with good adhesion to aluminum, operating stably in a wide voltage window.