Calcined chicken eggshell electrode for battery and supercapacitor applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Waste Management

Background:

• Biowaste eggshells, primarily calcium carbonate (CaCO3), present a sustainable source for energy storage materials.
• Valorization of biowaste through conversion into functional materials addresses landfill burden and promotes circular economy principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the electrochemical properties of biowaste eggshell-derived materials (CaCO3 and CaO) as potential electrodes for energy storage devices.
• To evaluate the performance of these materials as both cathode and anode components in electrochemical cells.

Main Methods:

• Calcination of biowaste eggshell to form calcium oxide (CaO).
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
• Electrochemical testing in a three-electrode configuration to assess capacitance and cycling stability.

Main Results:

• Calcination of CaCO3 results in CaO with altered morphology and chemical composition.
• CaCO3 exhibits electrochemical activity as a cathode, while CaO functions effectively as an anode.
• CaO anode demonstrates high capacitance (47.5 F g⁻¹), excellent stability (100% retention over 1000 cycles), and battery-type behavior.

Conclusions:

• Eggshell-derived CaO is a promising, high-performance anode material for electrochemical energy storage.
• The transformation of biowaste eggshell into functional electrodes offers a sustainable solution for waste management and energy needs.
• This research highlights the potential of utilizing abundant biowaste resources for advanced energy storage applications.