Processing-properties-performance triad relationship in a Washingtonia robusta mesoporous carbon materials-based...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Supercapacitors are crucial for energy storage, requiring advanced electrode materials.
• Sustainable and cost-effective precursors are needed for supercapacitor development.
• Mesoporous carbon materials offer high surface area and conductivity for electrochemical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize mesoporous carbon from Washingtonia robusta bark.
• To investigate the relationship between processing, properties, and electrochemical performance.
• To evaluate the suitability of this biomass-derived carbon for supercapacitor applications.

Main Methods:

• Chemical activation of Washingtonia robusta bark using KOH.
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen sorption.
• Electrochemical testing in a two-electrode supercapacitor setup.

Main Results:

• Optimized KOH activation produced mesoporous carbon with interconnected porosity.
• The best-performing sample achieved a specific capacitance of 179.3 F/g with 95% retention after 5000 cycles.
• Supercapacitor devices exhibited excellent electrical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) behavior, high energy density (20 Wh/kg), and power density (2000 W/kg).

Conclusions:

• Washingtonia robusta bark is a viable precursor for high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials.
• Processing parameters significantly influence the structure-property-performance relationship.
• This sustainable approach offers a promising route for developing advanced energy storage solutions.