Biomass-Derived Electrode for Next Generation Lithium-Ion Capacitors.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Activated carbon (AC) derived from Prosopis juliflora, an invasive plant, offers a sustainable source for electrode materials.
• Developing high energy density electrochemical capacitors is crucial for next-generation energy storage solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a cost-effective and eco-friendly Li-ion hybrid electrochemical capacitor (Li-HEC).
• To investigate the electrochemical performance of AC derived from Prosopis juliflora as a positive electrode material.

Main Methods:

• High surface area activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from Prosopis juliflora.
• Natural graphite was used as the negative electrode and electrochemically pre-lithiated.
• A Li-ion hybrid electrochemical capacitor (Li-HEC) was assembled using AC and pre-lithiated graphite.

Main Results:

• The fabricated Li-HEC achieved a specific energy of 162.3 Wh/kg.
• The device demonstrated excellent cyclability, retaining approximately 79% of its initial capacity after 7000 cycles.
• The unique tube-like structure and graphitic nanocarbon network of the AC contributed to superior ion transport and charge carrier accommodation.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrated a high-performance Li-HEC using sustainable and low-cost materials.
• The AC derived from Prosopis juliflora shows significant potential for applications in advanced energy storage devices.
• The structural characteristics of the AC are key to the enhanced electrochemical performance of the Li-HEC.