High carbon containing biomaterial offering honeycomb morphology as a charge storing electrode in aqueous alkaline electrolytes

• Main Authors: Bindhu, Devu, Sreekala, Chandrasekharannair Omanaamma, Nurulhuda, Mohamed Shah, Ling, JinKiong, Izan Izwan, Misnon, Yang, Chun-Chen, Jose, Rajan
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Elsevier 2024
• Subjects: Q Science (General); TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/42329/1/High%20carbon%20containing%20biomaterial%20offering%20honeycomb%20morphology_ABST.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/42329/2/High%20carbon%20containing%20biomaterial%20offering%20honeycomb%20morphology.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/42329/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2024.118423; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2024.118423
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah

Research on unconventional carbon structures and morphologies obtainable from renewable sources are a way forward in realizing sustainable materials for the next-generation industry. Herein, renewable porous carbon from a biomass (coconut rachis) with high carbon content (∼81 %) and honeycomb morphology (inner diameter ∼60 μm and wall thickness ∼500 nm) is developed as an electrochemical capacitor electrode. The coconut rachis upon chemical activation yield a surface area ∼1,630 m2‧g−1 and desirable pore characteristics for storing aqueous cations. The electrochemical charge storability of the porous carbon electrodes in 1 M KOH, NaOH and LiOH electrolytes showed specific capacitances ∼320, ∼140 and ∼102 F‧g−1, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectra validated the higher capacitance in the KOH electrolyte. Besides, symmetric supercapacitor full cells were fabricated using the present electrode in 1 M KOH electrolyte with desirable charge storage properties. Given the abundance of the precursor and desirable charge storage characteristics, the present work could be useful in developing the coconut rachis-resourced honeycomb-shaped porous carbon as a charge storing electrode.