Sustainable Carbon Source from Almond Shell Waste: Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Properties

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Waste Valorization

Background:

• Almond shell waste presents a disposal challenge.
• Developing sustainable materials for electrochemical applications is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To transform almond shell waste into a high-performance carbon material for carbon paste electrodes (CPEs).
• To investigate the electrochemical properties of the derived carbon material.
• To enhance the material's performance using bismuth oxide doped with samarium.

Main Methods:

• Almond shells were carbonized at 800 °C and activated with CO2.
• Bi2O3 doped with Sm was used as a surface modifier.
• Materials characterization included N2 physisorption, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and TG-DTA.
• Electrochemical performance was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Main Results:

• Carbonization and CO2 activation significantly increased surface area and pore volume.
• The modified carbon material exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity.
• The CPE fabricated from CAR_ALD/Bi2O3-Sm showed the highest current response (48 µA) and reduced charge transfer resistance.

Conclusions:

• Almond shell waste can be fully converted into a functional CPE working electrode.
• The developed material offers a sustainable and high-performance alternative for electrochemical applications.
• This represents the first report of a CPE fabricated entirely from waste material.