Abstract
We developed a facile and unique process for preparing boron-doped porous carbon by direct carbonization of a boron-based covalent organic framework (COF-5). Boron oxides, which are formed during the carbonization of COF-5, were readily removed through water treatment of the resulting carbon to obtain boron-doped porous carbon. Thus, boron atoms were successfully incorporated into the carbon matrix. Supercapacitor electrodes made of the fabricated boron-doped carbon exhibited a specific capacitance of 15.3 μF cm−2 at 40 mA g−1, which is twice that of the conventional activated carbon electrode (∼6.9 μF cm−2) at the same current density, owing to the presence of boron atoms in the carbon material. The supercapacitors based on boron-doped carbon demonstrated 72% capacitance retention after 10000 charge/discharge cycles. The boron-doped COF-derived carbon materials can serve as a new class of multifunctional carbon materials for energy storage devices.
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•Porous B-doped carbon is produced from a B-based covalent organic framework (COF).•Water treatment eliminated B oxides by COF calcination.•B atoms are atomically distributed in the porous carbon.•B-doped porous carbon can serve as supercapacitor electrode material.•Achieved 15 μF cm−2 specific capacitance at 40 mA g−1 in organic electrolyte.