Journal
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
Volume 274, Issue -, Pages 1300-1305Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.10.169
Keywords
Supercapacitors; Biochar; Plasma; Activation
Funding
- DOE Sun Grant Initiative
- North Central Sun Grant Center [DE-FG36-08GO88073]
- National Science Foundation [IIP-1248970]
- National Science Foundation/EPSCoR [0903804]
- State of South Dakota
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Biochar, also known as black carbon, is a byproduct of biomass pyrolysis. As a low-cost, environmental-friendly material, biochar has the potential to replace more expensive synthesized carbon nanomaterials (e.g. carbon nanotubes) for use in future supercapacitors. To achieve high capacitance, biochar requires proper activation. A conventional approach involves mixing biochar with a strong base and baking at a high temperature. However, this process is time consuming and energy inefficient (requiring temperatures >900 degrees C). This work demonstrates a low-temperature (<150 degrees C) plasma treatment that efficiently activates a yellow pine biochar. Particularly, the effects of oxygen plasma on the biochar microstructure and supercapacitor characteristics are studied. Significant enhancement of the capacitance is achieved: 171.4 F g(-1) for a 5-min oxygen plasma activation, in comparison to 99.5 F g(-1) for a conventional chemical activation and 60.4 F g(-1) for untreated biochar. This enhancement of the charge storage capacity is attributed to the creation of a broad distribution in pore size and a larger surface area. The plasma activation mechanisms in terms of the evolution of the biochar surface and microstructure are further discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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