Short title: ELECTRODE PREPARATION OF CARBON SUPERCAPACITOS INFLUENCE OF ELECTRODE PREPARATION ON THE ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF CARBON-BASED SUPERCAPACITORS

This paper investigates the influence of the electrode preparation on the electrochemical behaviour of carbon-based supercapacitors. Studies were performed using the same activated carbon and polymer (PVDF) in the same proportions (10 wt. % PVDF). Only the way in which these components were mixed was modified. The procedure for mixing the activated carbon and the polymer in order to form the electrode has a significant influence on the electrochemical behaviour of the electrode used in a supercapacitor, as this determines the surface area accessible to the electrolyte. The mixing procedure can be selected in order to ensure optimum performance of the electrode. The use of NMP in the mixing procedure, the most common method reported in the literature, blocks a significant part of the porosity of the activated carbon, causing a decrease in the capacitance of the electrodes. The addition of the polymer using one of the other methods studied reduces the accessible surface area to a lesser extent, although the use of ball milling causes a decrease in the size of the carbon particles, which in turn increases the resistance of the electrode.