Supercapacitor Separators from Upcycled Waste Paper with Functionalized Surfaces.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Supercapacitor separators are critical components in energy storage devices.
• Conventional separators often lack mechanical strength and optimal ion transport.
• There is a growing need for sustainable materials in energy storage applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop high-performance supercapacitor separators from waste newspapers.
• To enhance separator mechanical integrity and electrochemical functionality.
• To establish an environmentally responsible method for paper waste valorization.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing waste newspapers to create functional cellulose-based membranes.
• Sequentially introducing Parylene C and polyaniline (PANI) layers onto cellulose scaffolds.
• Conducting comprehensive structural and electrochemical analyses.

Main Results:

• The developed dual-layer cellulose-based separators showed improved interfacial stability and ion-transport compared to polyethylene separators.
• The synergistic combination of Parylene C and PANI coatings optimized separator-electrolyte interfaces and reduced impedance.
• The upcycled membranes demonstrated high performance for supercapacitor applications.

Conclusions:

• Waste newspapers can be effectively upcycled into advanced supercapacitor separators.
• The functionalized cellulose membranes offer a sustainable and high-performance alternative to conventional separators.
• This strategy provides a viable pathway for sustainable energy storage technologies and waste valorization.