Investigations of Activated Carbon from Different Natural Sources for Preparation of Binder-Free Few-Walled CNTs/Activated Carbon Electrodes

Abstract

In this study, we present another approach to fabricating high-performance supercapacitor electrodes by combining activated carbon particles with carbon nanotubes (AC/CNT). We synthesized activated carbon from diverse biomass sources using a carbonization process and chemical activation with KOH. By incorporating carbon nanotubes, we significantly augmented the electrode’s surface area, resulting in exceptional ion transport and a substantial increase in specific capacitance. Our investigation reveals that the optimized composition, 85:10:5 of AC, CNT, and conductive additive, achieved outstanding specific capacitance values, notably 125.6 F g−1 at 1 mV s−1 and 118 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, along with a maximum energy density of 4 Wh kg−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further demonstrated the superior charge transfer capabilities of these electrodes, notably at a frequency range from 100 kHz to 10 mHz. Additionally, our research highlights the influence of different biomass precursors, such as apricot kernels, walnut shells, and rice husks, on the electrochemical behavior of these electrodes. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the development of high-performance supercapacitors, emphasizing the potential of diverse biomass sources in optimizing electrode materials.