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Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, Vol. 12 No. 3, 2022.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.1314

Palmyra palm flower biomass-derived activated porous carbon and its application as a supercapacitor electrode

Sofia Jeniffer Rajasekaran ; Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Vimala Raghavan ; Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

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Abstract

Due to its abundant availability, eco-friendliness, and high sustainability, biomass-derived acti­vat­ed carbon has captured more attention in recent years. In this study, activated carbon was derived from Palmyra palm flowers (PPF) using a conventional chemical activation process and carbo­nization at different ambient temperatures, viz. 700, 800, and 900 °C. The carbonized PPF was chemically activated using 1 wt.% potassium hydroxide to increase the microporosity and specific surface. The experimental data were analyzed using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning elec­tron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), Raman spectr­oscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The nitrogen adsorption/de­sorption isotherm curve for activated carbon synthesized at the activation temperature of 900 °C indicated type IV with a hysteresis loop associated with mesopores formation and a specific surface area of 950 m2g-1. The supercapacitor electrodes made with PPF-derived carbon were evaluated for their electrochemical performance by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements. In the aqueous electrolyte (3 M KOH), electro­chemical experiments showed that PPF-900 electrode has a specific capacitance of 155 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and significant cyclic stability (97.3 % capacitance retention over 5000 cycles at 10 A g-1), while energy and power densities were estimated as 15.1 Wh kg-1 and 100.6 W kg-1. This study suggests that biowaste products could be transformed into activated carbon materials to improve the performance of energy storage materials, and it adheres to the 'waste to treasure' principle.

Keywords

Biowaste products; chemical activation; potassium hydroxide; electrochemical measurements; specific capacitance; energy storage

Hrčak ID:

279232

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/279232

Publication date:

13.6.2022.

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