Preparation of activated carbon paper by modified Hummer’s method and application as vanadium redox battery

In this report, the activated carbon papers were prepared by the modified Hummer’s method. After the treatment by the modified Hummer’s method, the specific surface areas of carbon papers enlarged and the surfaces became wettability. Further, the electrochemical behaviors for the activated carbon papers were measured. They exhibit higher electrochemical activities for VO 2+ /VO 2 + redox reaction than the unactivated counterparts upon application as vanadium redox battery, which is ascribed to the synergistic effect of surface wettability and catalysis of the docked –OH and –COOH groups.