Biomass-Derived N-Doped Activated Carbon from Eucalyptus Leaves as an Efficient Supercapacitor Electrode Material

Biomass-derived activated carbon is one of the promising electrode materials in supercapacitor applications. In this work bio-waste (oil extracted from eucalyptus leaves) was used as a carbon precursor to synthesize carbon material with ZnCl2 as a chemical activating agent and activated carbon was synthesized at various temperatures ranging from 400 to 800 degrees C. The activated carbon at 700 degrees C showed a surface area of 1027 m(2) g(-1) and a specific capacitance of 196 F g(-1). In order to enhance the performance, activated carbon was doped with nitrogen-rich urea at a temperature of 700 degrees C. The obtained activated carbon and N-doped activated carbon was characterized by phase and crystal structural using (XRD and Raman), morphological using (SEM), and compositional analysis using (FTIR). The electrochemical measurements of carbon samples were evaluated using an electrochemical instrument and NAC-700 degrees C exhibited a specific capacitance of 258 F g(-1) at a scan rate of 5 mV s(-1) with a surface area of 1042 m(2) g(-1). Thus, surface area and functionalizing the groups with nitrogen showed better performance and it can be used as an electrode material for supercapacitor cell applications.

Automated summary

Biomass-derived activated carbon was synthesized using bio-waste as a carbon precursor and ZnCl2 as a chemical activating agent. Activation was carried out at different temperatures and nitrogen doping was performed at 700 degrees C to enhance the performance. The resulting activated carbon showed a surface area of 1027 m(2) g(-1) and a specific capacitance of 196 F g(-1), while the nitrogen-doped activated carbon exhibited a specific capacitance of 258 F g(-1) and a surface area of 1042 m(2) g(-1). Surface area and nitrogen functionalization had a positive impact on the performance of the electrode material for supercapacitor applications.