Preparation of N-doped activated carbons for electric double-layer capacitors from waste fiberboard by K2CO3 activation

N-doped activated carbons for electric double-layer capacitors were prepared from waste medium density fiberboard using K 2 CO 3 activation. The effects of carbonization temperature, activation temperature, activation time and K 2 CO 3 /coke mass ratios on surface chemical compositions, pore structure and electrochemical performance of the resulting activated carbons were investigated. Results indicated that the activated carbons had nitrogen contents from 0.93 to 2.86%, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface areas from 569 to 1027 m 2 /g and specific capacitances from 147 to 223 F/g, depending on carbonization and activation conditions. The maximum specific capacitance was attributed to a high surface area, optimum pore size, large pore volume and high N-5 (the pyrrolic nitrogen and pyridinic nitrogen in association with oxygen functionality) content. [New Carbon Materials 2014, 29(2): 89–95]