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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Evaluating the Electrochemical Properties of Supercapacitors using the Three-Electrode System
Published on: January 7, 2022
Sustainable Cu-BTC@CNT Composites Derived from Recycled Polypropylene for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes
Dhruvesh Maiya1, Koshal Kishor2, Ganesh Bajad2
1School of Humanities and Sciences, Institute of Advanced Research Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar 382426, Gujarat, India.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 12, 2026
Summary
This study developed eco-friendly supercapacitor electrodes using recycled carbon nanotubes and Cu-BTC MOF. The resulting Cu-BTC@CNT composite shows high capacitance and durability for advanced energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Sustainable Energy Storage
Background:
- Growing demand for sustainable, high-performance energy storage solutions.
- Need for advanced fabrication methods for eco-friendly supercapacitor electrodes.
- Utilization of hybrid frameworks from sustainable sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize Cu-BTC@CNT composite electrodes using recycled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a Cu-BTC metal-organic framework (MOF).
- To characterize the structure-property relationships of the composite.
- To evaluate the electrochemical performance and durability of the electrodes for supercapacitor applications.
Main Methods:
- Solvothermal synthesis of Cu-BTC@CNT composite electrodes.
- Characterization using Raman Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and electrochemical techniques (Cyclic Voltammetry, Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy).
- Analysis of electrochemical data including Trasatti and Dunn's analysis, and postcycling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of Cu-BTC@CNT composite electrodes with CNTs forming a conductive network with Cu-BTC MOF.
- Achieved high specific capacitance (265.7 F g-1 at 10 mV s-1) and excellent capacity retention (84.7% after 5000 cycles).
- Demonstrated dominant pseudocapacitive contribution (96.89%) and efficient conductivity with low charge-transfer resistance (7.23 Ω).
Conclusions:
- The Cu-BTC@CNT composite electrodes exhibit superior electrochemical performance and durability compared to pure Cu-BTC and Cu-BTC@rGO.
- The study establishes a sustainable pathway for waste valorization into high-performance electrode materials for next-generation energy storage.
- Reversible metal redox transitions and cation intercalation contribute to the observed pseudocapacitance.
