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Synergistic Effect of Low-Concentration ZnCl2-Activated Bio-Carbon from Red Suren Leaves with Hierarchical Pore Structure and Self-Doping for High-Performance Supercapacitor Applications
Taer E.
Journal of Renewable Materials
Q2Abstract
The promotion of bio-carbon for developing superior electrodes has become a trending topic in realising the practical application of supercapacitor devices. This study aimed to prepare porous carbon (PC) with a taproot fiber-like nanostructure that was decorated with self-doped oxygen. The waste of red suren leaves (RSL) was further treated using a direct heating method with the catalyst effect of ZnCl2 (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 M) in an N2/CO2 environment at 850°C, being examined. The results showed that RSL@PC-0.5 exhibited the best amorphous carbon structure (FWHM = 0.105° and 0.182°). The specific surface area (SSA = 495.31 m2/g) and the combination of hierarchical nanostructure with abundant multi-level pores (micro-mesopores) were supported by the appropriate presence of O (4.26%) heteroatoms. Oxygen within the carbon matrix enhanced the electrode-electrolyte interaction by adding active sites, thereby contributing additional pseudocapacitance. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance showed a high specific capacitance of 490 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. The energy density and power density reached 62.93 Wh/kg and 156.67 W/kg, indicating the excellent electrochemical performance of the RSL@PC-0.5 material. This study presented a supercapacitor material derived from biomass, showing a new PC with O self-doped fiber nanostructures that could serve as a rational reference for the practical application of environmentally friendly energy storage.