Investigation on activated carbon derived from biomass Butnea monosperma and its application as a high performance supercapacitor electrode

In the present work, Butnea monsperma flower pollens (BMPs) were used to synthesize high surface area activated carbons (ACs). ACs were prepared employing one-step thermal activation process, by varying the ZnCl2 impregnation ratio. Optimization was done to ensure suitable porosity parameters and better electrochemical performance. Optimization succeeded in achievement of large values of total pore volume (similar to 0.77 cm(3) g(-1)) and specific surface area (similar to 1422 m(2) g(-1) ). Electrochemical characteristics of optimized AC were compared in aqueous and ionic liquid based electrolyte. The value of capacitance of AC electrode was observed to be large similar to 130 F g(-1)) in aqueous electrolyte. Large magnitudes of specific energy (similar to 42 Wh kg(-1)) and specific power (similar to 19 kW kg(-1)) were observed in ionic liquid based electrolyte. Further, it has been observed that AC provided capacitance retention of more than similar to 99% (for more than 10,000 cycles). Synthesized AC is thus believed, profitable for energy storage devices.