Ultrapure synthetic carbon materials

Abstract

The present application is generally directed to ultrapure synthetic carbon materials having both high surface area and high porosity, ultrapure polymer gels and devices containing the same. The disclosed ultrapure synthetic carbon materials find utility in any number of devices, for example, in electric double layer capacitance devices and batteries. Methods for making ultrapure synthetic carbon materials and ultrapure polymer gels are also disclosed.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A carbon material comprising a BET specific surface area of at least 500 m 2 /g and an impurity content of less than 500 ppm of elements having atomic numbers ranging from 11 to 92 as measured by proton induced x-ray emission, wherein the impurity content comprises less than 100 ppm potassium, less than 20 ppm calcium, less than 20 ppm nickel, less than 20 ppm copper, less than 10 ppm iron and less than 5 ppm zinc. 
     
     
         62 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 50 ppm potassium. 
     
     
         63 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 10 ppm potassium. 
     
     
         64 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 50 ppm chlorine. 
     
     
         65 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 10 ppm calcium. 
     
     
         66 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 10 ppm nickel. 
     
     
         67 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 5 ppm nickel. 
     
     
         68 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 3 ppm nickel. 
     
     
         69 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 10 ppm copper. 
     
     
         70 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 5 ppm iron. 
     
     
         71 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , comprising less than 2 ppm zinc. 
     
     
         72 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , wherein the carbon material comprises a BET specific surface area of at least 1000 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         73 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , wherein the carbon material comprises a BET specific surface area of at least 1500 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         74 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , wherein the carbon material comprises a BET specific surface area of at least 2000 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         75 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , wherein the carbon material comprises a BET specific surface area of at least 2400 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         76 . The carbon material of  claim 61 , wherein the carbon material comprises a pore volume of at least 0.7 cc/g. 
     
     
         77 . A device comprising the carbon material of  claim 61 . 
     
     
         78 . The device of  claim 77 , wherein the device is an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) device comprising:
 a) a positive electrode and a negative electrode wherein each of the positive and the negative electrodes comprise the ultrapure synthetic carbon material;   b) an inert porous separator; and   c) an electrolyte;   wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are separated by the inert porous separator.   
     
     
         79 . The device of  claim 77 , wherein the device is a lithium/carbon battery, zinc/carbon battery, lithium air battery or lead acid battery. 
     
     
         80 . An electrode comprising the carbon material of  claim 61  and a binder.