Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors

Supercapacitors based on activated carbon are the representatives of sustainable devices among electrochemical energy storage devices because of their renewable electrode materials, eco-friendliness, longer life cycle and superior charge-discharge rate capabilities. However, to expand their commerci...

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Main Author:	Sunil, Vaishak
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2023
Subjects:	HD Industries Land use Labor T Technology (General)
Online Access:	http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/38477/1/ir.Surface%20engineering%20of%20commercial%20activated%20carbon%20for%20improving%20the%20charge%20storability%20of%20electrochemical%20capacitors.pdf
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spelling	my-ump-ir.384772023-08-25T02:16:49Z Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors 2023-05 Sunil, Vaishak HD Industries. Land use. Labor T Technology (General) Supercapacitors based on activated carbon are the representatives of sustainable devices among electrochemical energy storage devices because of their renewable electrode materials, eco-friendliness, longer life cycle and superior charge-discharge rate capabilities. However, to expand their commercial value, their current energy densities should be made comparable with the market leading Lithium-ion batteries. One of the approaches to increase the energy density is by maximizing the number of pores to incorporate more ions. A majority of the research on supercapacitors demonstrated excellent laboratory-scale results through improving porosity, where the mass loading of such electrodes has a staggering difference from the industrial standards. These factors predominantly suppressed the initiatives to lift the biomass-derived carbon-based electrodes into the commercial picture. To address this issue, the present thesis focuses on expanding the electrochemical properties of commercial activated carbon derived from palm kernel shells by engineering its porosity in an eco-friendly and cost-effective manner. Herein, we employ the nitric acid refluxing method for the activation purpose, which, unlike the conventional routes, not only limits the usage of harsh chemicals, but also enables recyclability. We have optimized the performance of the electrode materials by refluxing the activated carbon for various acid to precursor ratios and refluxing duration. The electrochemical performances of the resulting materials were examined in a three-electrode system configuration in 1 M sodium sulphate electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the optimum sample was increased ~110% following a significant reduction in Warburg impedance. To understand the physicochemical alterations introduced upon refluxing, the as-synthesized carbon samples were characterized using X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning ElectronMicroscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, and gas adsorption measurements. With~75% increment, a highest surface area of ~722 m2·g-1 was recorded for the 72 hours refluxed sample, which aligns with the increased electrochemical performance incorresponding electrodes. Further, supercapacitor devices were fabricated using thisoptimized sample by varying the mass loading (~3, ~6, ~9, ~12, and ~14 mg·cm2), andthe electrochemical properties were studied. All the fabricated devices achieved apotential window of 1.8 V in 1 M sodium sulphate. The highest mass loaded (~14 mg·cm-2)device fabricated using the prepared material has delivered a maximum a real capacitance of ~494 mF·cm-2, an energy density of ~13 mWh·cm-3, and a maximum power density of ~2189 mW·cm-3. The current research thereby demonstrates an environmentally friendly and economic approach for engineering the porosity of commercial activated carbon to enhance the charge storability for practical applications. 2023-05 Thesis http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/38477/ http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/38477/1/ir.Surface%20engineering%20of%20commercial%20activated%20carbon%20for%20improving%20the%20charge%20storability%20of%20electrochemical%20capacitors.pdf pdf en public masters Universiti Malaysia Pahang Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology Jose, Rajan
institution	Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
collection	UMPSA Institutional Repository
language	English
advisor	Jose, Rajan
topic	HD Industries Land use Labor T Technology (General)
spellingShingle	HD Industries Land use Labor T Technology (General) Sunil, Vaishak Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
description	Supercapacitors based on activated carbon are the representatives of sustainable devices among electrochemical energy storage devices because of their renewable electrode materials, eco-friendliness, longer life cycle and superior charge-discharge rate capabilities. However, to expand their commercial value, their current energy densities should be made comparable with the market leading Lithium-ion batteries. One of the approaches to increase the energy density is by maximizing the number of pores to incorporate more ions. A majority of the research on supercapacitors demonstrated excellent laboratory-scale results through improving porosity, where the mass loading of such electrodes has a staggering difference from the industrial standards. These factors predominantly suppressed the initiatives to lift the biomass-derived carbon-based electrodes into the commercial picture. To address this issue, the present thesis focuses on expanding the electrochemical properties of commercial activated carbon derived from palm kernel shells by engineering its porosity in an eco-friendly and cost-effective manner. Herein, we employ the nitric acid refluxing method for the activation purpose, which, unlike the conventional routes, not only limits the usage of harsh chemicals, but also enables recyclability. We have optimized the performance of the electrode materials by refluxing the activated carbon for various acid to precursor ratios and refluxing duration. The electrochemical performances of the resulting materials were examined in a three-electrode system configuration in 1 M sodium sulphate electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the optimum sample was increased ~110% following a significant reduction in Warburg impedance. To understand the physicochemical alterations introduced upon refluxing, the as-synthesized carbon samples were characterized using X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning ElectronMicroscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, and gas adsorption measurements. With~75% increment, a highest surface area of ~722 m2·g-1 was recorded for the 72 hours refluxed sample, which aligns with the increased electrochemical performance incorresponding electrodes. Further, supercapacitor devices were fabricated using thisoptimized sample by varying the mass loading (~3, ~6, ~9, ~12, and ~14 mg·cm2), andthe electrochemical properties were studied. All the fabricated devices achieved apotential window of 1.8 V in 1 M sodium sulphate. The highest mass loaded (~14 mg·cm-2)device fabricated using the prepared material has delivered a maximum a real capacitance of ~494 mF·cm-2, an energy density of ~13 mWh·cm-3, and a maximum power density of ~2189 mW·cm-3. The current research thereby demonstrates an environmentally friendly and economic approach for engineering the porosity of commercial activated carbon to enhance the charge storability for practical applications.
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Master's degree
author	Sunil, Vaishak
author_facet	Sunil, Vaishak
author_sort	Sunil, Vaishak
title	Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
title_short	Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
title_full	Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
title_fullStr	Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
title_full_unstemmed	Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
title_sort	surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors
granting_institution	Universiti Malaysia Pahang
granting_department	Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology
publishDate	2023
url	http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/38477/1/ir.Surface%20engineering%20of%20commercial%20activated%20carbon%20for%20improving%20the%20charge%20storability%20of%20electrochemical%20capacitors.pdf
_version_	1783732292882006016

Surface engineering of commercial activated carbon for improving the charge storability of electrochemical capacitors

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