Phenolic Resin-based Activated Carbons for Supercapacitors (Supercapacitors Europe 2013)

Dr Negar Amini has completed her PhD in the field of carbon materials for biological fuel cells at University College London. She is currently a technologist at MAST Carbon International Ltd. and is involved in various European projects working on development of carbon materials with controlled structures for energy applications such as supercapacitors and fuel cells.

MAST Carbon International Ltd was established in 1994 to carry out research and development into the production and use of synthetic phenolic resin derived activated carbons. At that time this was principally in the areas of catalysis and water treatment. Since then the areas of application for the unique family of structured carbons has grown to include fuel cells, super capacitors, biomedical devices and air purification whilst the materials now include viscose and PAN derived carbon fibre. In the electrochemical area MAST is currently involved in the EU projects - Plant Power looking at biological fuel cells, Capmix on power generation through capacitative mixing and Autosupercap developing super capacitors for automotive use, and BioelectoMET looking at bio-electrochemical metal recovery and development of cellulose based carbons for batteries and fuel cells. MAST also sits on the management committee of the COST MP1004 - Industrial Supercapacitor group. In the UK Mast is on the management committees of two major University projects aimed at advanced supercapacitors/batteries and biological fuel cells. In all of these projects MAST's role is the development and supply of novel controlled structure carbon materials for electrochemical applications based primarily on synthetic precursors.