CuO nanoparticles mixed with activated BC extracted from algae as promising material for supercapacitor electrodes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Developing cost-effective and sustainable electrode materials is crucial for energy storage.
• Utilizing waste materials like algae can reduce environmental pollution and manufacturing costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel electrode material (CuO@BC) from red sea algae for energy storage applications.
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance of the synthesized material for potential use in supercapacitors.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal carbonization was used to synthesize nano-sized CuO mixed with activated biochar (CuO@BC) from red sea algae (Chlorophyta).
• Advanced physical techniques (HRTEM, BET, UV/Vis, FTIR, XED, SEM, EDX, TGA) were employed for material characterization.
• Electrochemical performance was assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) on a modified glassy carbon electrode (CuO@BC/GCE).

Main Results:

• The CuO@BC material exhibited nano-sized particles (32 nm) with a large surface area and significant porosity (pore diameter ~42.56 Å).
• The CuO@BC/GCE demonstrated excellent electrochemical properties, including a high specific capacitance of approximately 353 Fg⁻¹.
• The performance of CuO@BC/GCE surpassed that of individual components, indicating synergistic effects.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized CuO@BC material derived from algae waste is a promising candidate for high-performance supercapacitors.
• This approach offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for energy storage, reducing both cost and environmental impact.