Chemical fuel energy driving polymerization towards porous carbon nitride for energy storage application

Abstract

A chemical reaction network has been utilized as an energy and radical source to drive a polymerization of acrylonitrile monomer in an aqueous solution. The polymer is formed in a polymerization-induced self-assembly fashion. The carbonization of polyacrylonitrile leads to the formation of nanoporous carbon nitride. Ru species are observed in the porous polymer and carbon nitride. Tris (2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) chloride hexahydrate, a catalyst used in the B–Z reaction, remains in the carbon nitride framework, enhancing the electronic and chemical properties of the composites. The electrochemical properties of the composites were studied using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The specific capacitance of the electrode was found to be 763 F g⁻¹ at 0.3 A g⁻¹ current densities. The excellent specific capacitance behavior is mainly attributed to micro/mesopores structure, active sites for a superior redox reaction, intimate contact between Ru/RuO₂ nanoparticles with amorphous carbon nitride, rapid transportation of ions, and fast electrolyte transfer process.