Extraction of Activated Carbon from Biomass for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

The current energy crisis is at its peak, and traditional energy sources are inadequate to supply modern energy demand. Consequently, the energy storage technology that can sustain current requirements is in high demand. Batteries and supercapacitor are examples of electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs) that have been developed for a long time as crucial force sources in our daily lives. Orange peel, banana peel, wheat straw, olive stone, pistachio shells, walnut shells, beech wood, and hard coal, among other waste biomass sources, are used to produce activated carbon (AC). Activated carbon is used in energy storage applications due to high electrolyte wettability, high reactivity, and high thermal stability. Non- porous carbons are generated by the environmentally friendly, cheap, and low-temperature method of hydrothermal carbonization. For un-activated carbon we take 20 g of corn hair fiber and make gel in 100 ml DI water material was placed in autoclave at 250 ºC for 16 h. Activated carbon and KOH was taken by the ratio of 1:4 respectively, then grinding it in mortar and pestle, heated at 700-800 ºC at the 3 ºC min-1 ramp in a horizontal furnace under a nitrogen flow environment and held at this temperature for 1h. Hydrothermal process and temperature pyrolysis results in increased content of carbon and its aromatic nature in activated carbon. The percent yield of Activated carbon obtained through this method is much higher than other methods. Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to evaluate the sample and approximate its composition. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to explore the sample's electrochemical properties. CV and Specific capacitance show the enhancement of conductivity. The material has the highest specific capacitance 235 Fg-1.