Pine fruit activated carbon modified with CuCo₂Se₄ for the application in high-performance battery-type...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Biomass is a promising, sustainable resource for energy storage applications due to its unique properties.
• Biomass-derived activated carbons are gaining traction as electrode materials, especially when combined with pseudocapacitive components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a novel composite electrode material derived from pinecone flowers for supercapacitor applications.
• To enhance the electrochemical performance of activated carbon by incorporating pseudocapacitive CuCo2Se4 nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Activated carbon was prepared from pinecone flowers via alkaline treatment and pyrolytic carbonization.
• CuCo2Se4 nanoparticles (CCS) were synthesized onto Pine Fruit Activated Carbon (PFAC) using a hydrothermal method.
• The PFAC@CCS composite was characterized and tested as an electrode material for supercapacitors.

Main Results:

• The PFAC@CCS composite electrode exhibited a high specific capacity of 639.55 F g−1 at 1 A g−1.
• The material demonstrated excellent rate capability and cycling stability.
• A hybrid supercapacitor using PFAC@CCS achieved an energy density of 65.41 Wh kg−1 with minimal capacity fade over 5000 cycles.

Conclusions:

• The pinecone flower-derived PFAC@CCS composite is a highly effective electrode material for advanced supercapacitors.
• This biomass-based approach offers a sustainable and efficient pathway for developing high-performance energy storage devices.
• The study highlights the potential of utilizing agricultural waste for creating valuable energy storage solutions.